Sign of mortality
PISCATAWAY — Msgr. William Benwell, diocesan vicar general, urged the faithful to remember the significance and meaning of the ashes and to make permanent changes in their spiritual lives at an Ash Wednesday Mass in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center chapel Feb. 21.
The Liturgy was among hundreds celebrated across the diocese to begin the season of Lent, the period in the Latin church’s liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday. In his homily, Msgr. Benwell said of all the celebrations of the liturgical year, he could think of none that are “surrounded by more misunderstanding and misperception than the celebration for which we are gathered this morning.”
“Outside of Easter Sunday and Christmas, there is not a day in the year when more people will pass through their parish church than on Ash Wednesday,” Msgr. Benwell said. “What are they coming out for? It is not a blessing, a sign of our Catholicity, a good luck charm, a talisman, a get-out-of-jail-free card. It is a sign of mortality. Remember: ‘you are dust and to dust you shall return’ (Genesis).
“It is a sign that we are given a limited amount of time to do what God has created us to do, to bring about the Kingdom of God. We can’t put off being disciples of Jesus, living out that discipleship each and every day.”
Lent is also when we choose to sacrifice something or increase activities in our spiritual lives, such as attending Mass or reading Scriptures more often, Msgr. Benwell said. Unfortunately, we often go back to the same routines once Lent is over, he said.
“Lent is supposed to renew us and hopefully make the changes permanent,” Msgr. Benwell said. “This year, try to add something that will become a permanent part of your spiritual life. It can be something small, maybe more prayer or reading the Scriptures more regularly.
“None of us are charged by the Lord to be temporary disciples, to just focus on a section or a period of time,” he continued. “It is meant to be our vocation, our life’s call. We should be doing everything we can to change our lives permanently.”
Msgr. Benwell also said Lent should be a positive experience of renewal and growth, citing the Gospel: “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” (Mt: 6)
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law