Catholics and other religious organizations all over the world gathered on Wednesday the 14th of February, 2024 to perform the annual wearing of ashes on the forehead, in their respective churches.
The Lenten period begins with the mark of Ashes on forehead. It came from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head, among others.
It lasts for 40 days and calls for an in-depth reflection on the life style and activity of every Christian, as it relates to his or her relationship with Jesus Christ.
It is a season that reminds Christians all over the world that “they are dust and to dust they shall return.’
The uniqueness of the 2024 Lenten season is that it coincided with St. Valentine’s Day celebration, which is another significant day in the annual calendar of the Catholic Church.
However, the significant factors of the 2024 Ash Wednesday, despite the fact that it coincided with St. Valentine’s Day celebration, which is another memorable event in the annual calendar of the Catholic Church, Is the fact that observance of the season kick-started in a month and year known as “leap year.”
Above all, the season commenced in a month and year filled with financial difficulties and food shortages, as currently being faced by Christians and non Christians across the country.
It is therefore, pertinent for Christmas and non Christians to make judicious use of the season to seek the face of God and ask for his quick intervention on the current economic situation in the country.
In his homily, the officiating priest at the Catholic Church of Epiphany, Rumuigbo, PortHarcourt, Rivers State, admonished parishioners to take advantage of the season to ensure that their abstinence, not just on meat, but on some of their luxurious ways of living are curtailed to benefit the less privileged in the society.
According to the priest, those left over food, as a result of their self denial must not be reserved or consumed later, but to be channeled to the indigent people in the neighbourhood and society at large.
The Lenten season is a time for service and inward spiritual repentance and an act of contrition, providing an opportunity for us (Christians) to honour our journey with Christ by living our lives the way Jesus Christ lived His.
The life of Christ is hinged on love for all people, hence the need for us to replicate same to fellow Christians and non Christians alike, particularly to the poor people in our midst.
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lenten season and also ends with another significant Holy day, the Easter Sunday. The day Christians believe Christ resurrected after His crucifixion on the cross of Calvary.
The season is indeed, a time for total commitment and sacrifice through personal decision, but in accordance with the exemplary life lived by our saviour, Jesus Christ.
Let us, above all, remember to give alms to the needy around us, particularly in the present economic situation in the country and pray God to use the season to reach out to each and everyone of us (Christians) and non Christians in Nigeria and the world all over, according to our needs.
