As I drove down West Vine Avenue in Eunice, Louisiana I noticed a line of cars parked a few blocks from St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. My silence was interrupted by the church bells. I quickly realized that this fleet of cars wasn't from ongoers of yesterday's Mardi Gras activities downtown. These weren't people's cars at work or jammed in traffic. This congregation was ongoers of Ash Wednesday.
I couldn't help but talk to myself and break the silence in my car saying, "What a beautiful thing to see?" I drove slowly trying to find a parking spot so that my car, too, could become part of this mass blockage.
After driving around a few different ways, I managed to find a parking place near Picou's Drug Store. I walked happily to mass, listening to the birds sing as the sun warmed my body. I kept pace with multiple people all headed in the same direction, home.
Upon my arrival, I was greeted with smiles from old friends and new faces. The pews were overflowing with people. I stood in awe, not even concerned about how I would fit in. I knew that I wanted to be a part of this assembly.
Eventually, I found a seat in the front pew, a place Catholics always leave open for the latecomers! I listened intensely to the words the Lord gave us on this important day. Ready to receive my "divine mark of the master," as the priest called it, I walked to get my ashes. Once it was my turn, I prayed silently asking God to let my old ways die and give me renewal. I received the dark black ashes on my forehead with the words, "repent and believe in the gospel."
I walked out of mass with debris falling to my nose, noticing everyone's unique dark marks now present on their foreheads also. I wondered what mine looked like. Whatever it looked like, this mark would help me begin my 40-day Lenten Journey. And, with that, I let the sun shine brighter to reveal my public testimony of repentance.
Any catholic can speak on the striking amount of people that attend Ash Wednesday mass, but you should do more than listen to their words. You should experience it for yourself. The beauty and welcome that our churches around the world embody are beyond this world. You will leave knowing you will come back to feed your soul with more
Leaving mass with these marks means our beliefs will be presented to those around us. With that in mind, people often question, "What are you giving up for Lent?" For some, this may be personal, and it's okay for the answer to remain that way. But, I'd like to ask you one more question to have an answer to.
What are you giving back?
Giving Up- It can be something you enjoy doing that you can sacrifice. It can also be something bad for you that you need to sacrifice.
Giving Back- You can give donations, your time, your mind, and even your presence. When you give back it doesn't have to be materialistic.
Today is the day to start giving up and giving back!
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