Last Wednesday,22.2.2023, we commemorated Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. To many Ash Wednesday is another day for rituals - fast, abstinence, attending mass and imposition of ashes on their foreheads.
While there is nothing wrong with these practices, but Ash Wednesday is much more than these rituals. Today it is so difficult to live a good and decent life in an environment of so much evil. Evil seem to be so powerful and we seem to be helpless watching it triumph over good, everywhere and every time.
Very often we too succumb to the temptations of such evils which are deep rooted in our society everywhere. With our rituals we are not going to win over evil engulfing us.
We can only defeat evil by our courage to stand up to it, a courage that is so lacking in us. This courage is obtained from the examples shown by Jesus himself as he prepared to face his unjust persecution and death on the cross. He himself gained that courage from the Father and used fasting to strengthen him to fight the evil that even put him to death on the cross.
As Christians we too are faced with evil influences everywhere and we need great courage to live a righteous life in such a hostile environment where greed, wealth and injustice rule.
During this Lent, let us pray for that courage in our hearts to face our own trials and tribulations. Let us ask God to give us the courage to stand up where many are failing. Within ourselves lets gain the courage to fight the evil within us. In our family lets gain the courage to extend a hand of friendship to all our loved ones. In our places of work and country lets have the courage to extend our friendship and goodwill to all, including those who are against us.
Have a blessed and meaningful Lent.
