Joy and Mourning

Posted by: L.E.S. on: February 9, 2016

• In: Faith | Family | Friends | Holy Days | Marriage | Parenting | Seasons of the Church Year
• Comments Off on Joy and Mourning

 

Planning a wedding, celebrating a new job, welcoming a newborn or an adopted child into our family, moving into a new home? If so, the solemnity of Ash Wednesday might seem at odds with our mood.

Think about this reading from Joel 2:12-13*:

“Yet even now,” says the LORD,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

and tear your hearts and not your garments.”

My maternal grandparents on their wedding day

Who could think of fasting or weeping or mourning at a joyful time? And yet that is what we’re called to do.

We don’t have to draw on memories of sadder times to get into the spirit of Lent; instead, we need to look into our hearts to see where a change is in order:

• Do we focus on appearances, or are we genuine?
• Are we proud of what we have or thankful for our blessings?
• Do we judge those who are less fortunate or give to those in need? Do we give donations or volunteer our time to gain attention or to serve?
• Do we take our spouse and parents for granted, or are we grateful for their love and support? Do we care for them in turn?
• Do we encourage our children or nag them? Do we push our expectations for their lives or encourage them in their God-given gifts? Do we notice and comment only on acting-out behaviour or give them credit for the good character they show in working hard at school, getting along with siblings, doing their chores and being kind?
• Do we focus on others’ mistakes and refuse to acknowledge or ask forgiveness for our own?
• Do we attend Mass and receive the sacraments only occasionally, or do we receive them regularly to strengthen us?

If we do a spiritual self-check and think everything looks fine, maybe we need to ask the Spirit to show us where we might be failing our families, our friends, our faith or ourselves. Then, even in a time of great joy, we can enter into the spirit of Lent and begin to prepare our hearts to welcome the risen Lord at Easter.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.”

~ Luke 3:4

(*Scripture quotes taken from the Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition.)

 

 

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Tags: Ash Wednesday, Catholic, Christian, faith, fasting, God, mourning, religion, spiritual health