Today we celebrate Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
When we receive ashes, the priest or other minister says, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”
Many people hear the words but don’t give them much thought. But what does it mean to be faithful to “the Gospel?”
Well, Jesus gave us many commandments – Christian commandments – that we are to follow. The most important of them is the triple love command, that is, to love God, our neighbor, as ourselves.
He also gave us other commands, such as: welcoming the stranger; giving drink to the thirsty and food to the hungry; clothing the naked; consoling those in sorrow; teaching the ignorant; burying the dead; caring for the sick; and visiting the imprisoned. He also told us we are to be generous with our blessings, forgive our enemies, and pray for those who harm us.
This Lent, it might be a good idea to refresh our memories with the Christian commandments found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Then, we can examine our own lives to see how we measure up to Jesus’ commandments.
By the way, Happy Valentine’s Day!