Homily for Ash Wednesday 2010

What are we giving up for Lent?

Giving up things is what Lent brings to mind. Fasting from food each Friday and abstaining from meat today and Good Friday, are particular ways we are asked to observe during this time. It is one of the three things Jesus speaks about in the Gospel today. The other two are praying and being generous to the needy. He does not want us to be show-offs when we do these things as though we are better than anyone else. And we wear a small cross of ashes on our foreheads to show our commitment to this. How do we adults teach children about these things?

By our example especially. We can begin by asking ourselves what are we addicted to or obsessed with? Is it TV or Video games or food or gossiping? We might fast from some of these things not to show we have the will power to do so or to lose weight. We do it to make some space amidst all the distractions we can surround ourselves with. Then we can be more open to God in prayer. God can get a look in.

This is the second thing we try to cultivate during Lent, our prayer. When we make the space we can set new patterns of prayer in our lives. There are ample opportunities both in the parish and in our homes to pray if we put our minds to it. At home it is good to set up some concrete sign or symbol of this that speaks to children. This is a good time to drag out your children's baptism candles lit as a reminder that we are preparing for Easter, the celebration of our new life in Christ. Or it might be a bowl of water with which to bless yourselves with recalling our baptism just as we do when entering the Church.

Then, when we have created this prayer space by our fasting, and our prayer becomes part of the rhythm of our lives, our new alertness will enable us to see the needs of those around us. We know Project Compassion is one important way we do this. But when we fast at home the children could be told how this is one way we can save something for the poor.

Lent is a journey we do not make alone. We take up these three things together. We as Catholics, are united in this shared prayer, fasting and works of mercy. We do it in solidarity with those preparing for Baptism and with those who are poor, hungry or homeless.

We do it especially today in solidarity with the family of the boy who was killed at St Patrick's College yesterday. And with the boy who carried out the evil deed and his family. And with that whole community. Because we are all affected by such events. We all need God's healing and compassion in the face of that kind of event.

May our Lent bring us closer to God and each other. May it bring healing and wholeness to our lives. And more than anything it is healing that we need for the many painful things that we experience over which we have no control. May the witness of the ashes on our foreheads say that for us what is important is not being cool or tough, but following Jesus living with compassion for others. The ashes remind us of our mortality. We must die. We acknowledge that we depend on God for all we have and all we are.

Fr Graham