March 9, 2011
Ash Wednesday
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Blessings on your Lenten journey!
As we continue to travel around the calendar of the feasts and seasons of the Church, we find ourselves humbly at the gate of Easter once again. Lent, our path to Easter, is an often confusing time of ashes, penance, and doing without, all draped in the deep purple of the season. Though full of introspection, this Season is not always a time of misery, suffering and sorrow but also one of growth and expectant joy. We are fortunate this year to be at the end of winter as we begin our journey, so instead of winter doldrums and foul weather, we see spring’s rebirth as we hope for Easter.
As the days lengthen, I pray that you will take the opportunity to return to the basics of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Ramp up your prayer, fast from foods, TV, anger and working too much, give alms until it hurts, care and love and be reborn in the springtime of Easter! May our self-denials, repentance and spiritual work help us to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls for the love of the Risen Christ, our food of heaven.
…and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5: 5
Know that I am here praying with and for you daily and that this will be a Lent of great growth and blessing for us all. As we begin to make our way both physically and spiritually toward our goal of Easter joy, I encourage you to hope in the blessings that God has promised to bestow on us.
In peace,
Most Reverend Anthony Hash
Presiding Bishop
Ash Wednesday
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Blessings on your Lenten journey!
As we continue to travel around the calendar of the feasts and seasons of the Church, we find ourselves humbly at the gate of Easter once again. Lent, our path to Easter, is an often confusing time of ashes, penance, and doing without, all draped in the deep purple of the season. Though full of introspection, this Season is not always a time of misery, suffering and sorrow but also one of growth and expectant joy. We are fortunate this year to be at the end of winter as we begin our journey, so instead of winter doldrums and foul weather, we see spring’s rebirth as we hope for Easter.
As the days lengthen, I pray that you will take the opportunity to return to the basics of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Ramp up your prayer, fast from foods, TV, anger and working too much, give alms until it hurts, care and love and be reborn in the springtime of Easter! May our self-denials, repentance and spiritual work help us to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls for the love of the Risen Christ, our food of heaven.
…and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5: 5
Know that I am here praying with and for you daily and that this will be a Lent of great growth and blessing for us all. As we begin to make our way both physically and spiritually toward our goal of Easter joy, I encourage you to hope in the blessings that God has promised to bestow on us.
In peace,
Most Reverend Anthony Hash
Presiding Bishop