Father John writes:

Ash Wednesday this week!

The start of the journey of Lent. How often we dread Lent, it seems to be all about penance, gloom and death. The priest will sign you with ashes and say “Remember you are dust and unto dust you will return”

Just outside a village in Italy not far from Rome, there is a road direction sign “to the cemetery” and beside it is a traffic sign “one-way street”! We are all going to die. The culture of our present time speaks of death only with sadness, fear and gloom. As people get older, they tend to dread their next birthday – one year nearer to death. But this is contrary to our whole Christian belief! Yes, we will all die, but I recall the old lady who welcomed her birthday -” I will be one year nearer the Resurrection” she said. Lent is all about the journey of life, eternal life – but there is no Resurrection without death first.

Have you ever wondered where did the martyrs get the courage to face violent death instead of running away? The answer is that they truly valued above all Christ’s promise of eternal life.

How about this Lent making a real journey of hope and joy towards Easter Night.