Lent started on Ash Wednesday; the day when Christians, particularly Catholics,  went to their churches where ashes were imposed and imprinted on their foreheads.  This seemingly weird practice dates back to the Old Testament times when repentant and public sinner would either sit on ashes or cover their bodies with the same.

     Once a Father was asked by a child why the need for them to put dirt on their foreheads, the Father replied, "Yan ang uso sa araw na 'to, anak.  Hindi ka in kapag wala ka niyan."

     But the minister's words spell out something more than just sheer imposition of dirt on the forehead: TURN AWAY FROM SIN AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!

     Lent is not just a once-a-year event which reminds us to be good; not a seasonal manifestation of nearness to God. It is an invitation for us to "once and for all" live and continue living the gospel and the very spirit of our baptism in preparation for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery.

     Christian life is always a life towards Easter and each year we are given the opportunity for a "forty-days' retreat" to direct our lives anew toward the Paschal Mystery.  This we do through a renewed consciousness and decisiveness and constant reflection on the word of God.  We perform different forms of penitential practices and works of mercy in the spirit of prayer and intensified charitable activity:  all directed to the desire to be one with the Lord who took the form of flesh, died and rose back to life for us.  For we are aware that in Baptism, we have been given a share in the Paschal Mystery of Christ (Rom 6:1-11).

     As we continue to prepare for Easter, we celebrate not His death but the life he gave us; the new life born of baptism; the celebration of life in the breaking of the bread;  the dignity of life in each and every least of His brethren that we give even the littlest that we have  . . . the meaning of dying into one's self so that others may continue to live.  This is Lent.  This is the celebration of His life . . . the fullness of life!