Without the ashes today am I a Catholic?
Yesterday evening Cardinal McCarrick was the guest celebrant for our AshWednesday Mass at St. Joseph's on Capitol Hill. He spoke about how powerful the symbolism of ashes on our foreheads was throughout the city. On streets, on Metro cars, on busses, in our offices and our homes -- that smudge of burnt palm leaves was a clear sign to all who looked on them: there is a Catholic. Yes, there were many setting out on a journey. It is to be a journey of yet another experience of know with more depth both Jesus and myself.
Today we symbol-bearing Catholics are smudgeless! Will those who determined what our religion was yesterday be able to pick out the Catholics today ... just 24 hours later. How can others decide if we are Catholics? Living the life of the gospels: this is the primary way for others to know I am a follower of Christ.
For those who have elected a way of life apart from God, the season of Lent, the journey of encountering who or what they have become, is an journey of return. It is a prodigal's long walk. It is the opportunity to return to God> It is a journey that demands accepting a death to what is sin in our lives.
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord!Today we symbol-bearing Catholics are smudgeless! Will those who determined what our religion was yesterday be able to pick out the Catholics today ... just 24 hours later. How can others decide if we are Catholics? Living the life of the gospels: this is the primary way for others to know I am a follower of Christ.
For those who have elected a way of life apart from God, the season of Lent, the journey of encountering who or what they have become, is an journey of return. It is a prodigal's long walk. It is the opportunity to return to God> It is a journey that demands accepting a death to what is sin in our lives.
