In the bible, a mark of a forehead is a symbol of ownership. Ezekiel 9:4 says " The Lord said to him,'Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst. " Revelation 7:3 says" ...Do no harm to the earth or the seas or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads."
The sign which is marked on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday is a cross. ( I know, sometimes it looks more like a smudge of dirt then a cross.) But it is to remind us that we belong to Jesus who died on the cross for our salvation.
Walking around with a smudge of ashes all day on Wednesday can be a great way to engage others. it can be a tool to teach them about what Ash Wednesday is all about. I love it when someone approaches me to tell me I have dirt on my forehead. First of all, it takes a lot of courage to tell someone you don't know that their face is dirty. So I appreciate their willingness to tell me. But I also love the chance to tell them a little bit about Ash Wednesday and my faith.
Lent also means the beginning of Fish Fry. Saint Joseph Academy has a fish fry every Friday in Lent to support the school. Tuition covers only the teachers' salaries. The money from the fish fry go towards all the other bills we must pay like utilities and maintenance. So come to the fish fry and get a delicious fish dinner. And support Catholic education at the same time. See you on Friday at Saint Joseph Academy in Walton, KY.
No comments:
Post a Comment