La Vie Chrétienne: I gotta get me some ashes

By: FATHER MITCHELL GUIDRY
Pastor Our Lady Queen of All Saints Catholic Church

Mardi Gras season is well underway, soon to yield to the penitential season of Lent. There once was a time when most Catholics really took Lent seriously. Meat was not eaten on Wednesdays or Fridays, and not replaced by mounds of boiled crawfish, huge seafood platters or grand fish suppers with large quantities of beer being consumed. Instead, they ate simple, meatless meals like eggs and rice, potato and egg stew or cornbread and milk. People refrained from dances and entertainment; instead, they prayed the family Rosary each night, the Stations of the Cross each Friday and faithfully attended each night of the yearly parish mission. People examined their consciences, went to Confession and tried to reform their lives for the better.
These days, you can’t tell that Lent is any different than the rest of the year. Oh, sure, people will get drunk, wild and crazy for Mardi Gras for what they say is their “last chance of fun before Lent,” but they’re lying. Throughout Lent, they will continue to get drunk, act wild, break nearly every commandment without shame or claim they have taken up silly “penances,” which they will continue to break. People will still refuse or constantly “forget” to pray, not attend church, etc. And, of course, people will show up for Mass on Ash Wednesday in droves to receive their ashes. People who are unable to attend Mass will call church offices in a panic because it’s Ash Wednesday asking, “Can the priest still give me my ashes? I gotta get me some ashes!!!” Okay, so you get your ashes, and then what? Life as usual?
The Lord does not care if you have ashes on your head or not; that’s not what He’ll be looking for once you’re dead in this world and go before Him for judgment in the next. He will look at your soul - He will look to see His reflection in your soul. “Did you love Me?” He will ask. “Did you follow My commandments? Was I most important to you? Did you talk to Me in prayer? Did you ask Me what choices you should make in living your life and do what I said? Did you purposely turn away from sin and purposely seek to do what is right and good? Did you strive to live a holy life, loving Me before all else, and your neighbor before yourself? Are others better off because of you? Did you lead them to Me by your words and example?”
Ashes are nothing but a symbol of repentance. Without a sincere and conscious desire to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel, ashes are useless. Ashes are not what’s important: PRAYER is; SACRIFICE is; ACTS OF CHARITY are. Change your heart, change your focus. Follow God’s will, not your own. Go back to church. Pray. Read and reflect on the Scriptures. Ask Christ’s forgiveness for your past sins and His grace to avoid future sins. Learn to do without something you don’t need in order to realize your dependence on and need for God and God alone. Forgive others, ask to be forgiven. Visit the sick and elderly. Do something good for someone without being asked and without asking for anything in return. Fulfill your responsibilities and obligations. Grow up. Do what you’re supposed to be doing. Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Be holy as the Lord, your God, is Holy.