MIYERKULES TI KURKUROS

I decided to wake up early today and attend a mass at Baguio Cathedral. As most of us, especially Roman Catholics know that today marks the start of Lenten Season - 40 days and 6 Sundays leading to Easter (Resurrection) Sunday. One of the indicators that it is Lent is when you see people having ash marks of cross in their foreheads. 

By the way, I am not a Roman Catholic but as I realize the beauty of some (though I don't agree in everything they do) of the "symbolisms" that they use and practice, I start to appreciate them especially that one of my spiritual temperament is "traditionalist" this classification is for people who connects to God the most in symbols, liturgy, and sacraments. It is important to acknowledge that not everyone have this particular spiritual temperament (some are contemplative,enthusiast,naturalist,activists,caregiver, ascetic, sensate and intellectual).To discover your spiritual temperament, click this link (http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Features/Magazine/2011/nine-spiritual-temperaments.aspx).

Why use ashes on Ash Wednesday? Ashes is an outward sign/symbolism of our sorrow,human morality and repentance for sins. It is a reminder that "...for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:9 NIV). These ashes are traditionally from the burned palm leaves from last year's Palm Sunday celebration. Let us remember that this practice is no magical, this is done for the purpose of symbolism.

As the priest placed his thumb to place an ash mark of cross on my forehead, I started to reflect on the  fact that we have a Creator, who created us from dust, breathed in us His Holy Spirit of life, and loved us even to the point that he gave His Son, Jesus for us. In our brokenness, He chose to take our brokenness for us to be made whole. How beautiful reading the writings of Apostle Paul when he said “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:13). 

Today, Ash Wednesday is celebrated in masses and services by churches. Whether it is letting the ministers put ash marks of cross in their foreheads or in other churches, they prefer it in their palms. Still, with or without ash mark of crosses, more than this "physical" symbols, let us see the "spiritual" relevance of this practice.

Lent is all about Jesus who became one of us and include us in His life,death and resurrection. He did all of these because of His unconditional love for all humanity. Hallelujah! 

This Lenten Season, let us take this opportunity to pause, reflect, pray, devote, retreat, rest and fast as we commemorate the beauty of this Life that we have in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

"Miyerkules Ti Kurkuros" - is the Ilocano translation for Ash Wednesday.