Good Shepherd Convent Kandy beings the season of Lent

It is a season of penance, reflection, fasting and sacrifice. Ash Wednesday prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Ashes are a symbol of penance. We find evidence for this in the Old Testament. The sign of the Cross which the priest places on our forehead with the ashes, is a reminder of our own death and that we will return to dust. It is a reminder that we should change our lives for the better. The ashes are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him, with repentant hearts. God’s divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of lent. The church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance. The most important thing is that this day provides an opportunity for inner repentance and change of behavior. It is a time for justice, a time to set the oppressed free, to share food with the hungry, provide homes for the homeless and clothes for the needy, a time to look at the marginalized and oppressed people and be charitable towards them. So, let us ask God to help us experience inner repentance and healing and prepare ourselves to celebrate Easter with joy, always being mindful of those around us and their needs.