From Dust We Come, To God We Return: The Call of Ash Wednesday
By Social Communications
Published on March 5, 2025
Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18 — “When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.”
Ash Wednesday opens the Church’s Lenten season—a time set apart for repentance, renewal, and preparation for Easter. Today’s Gospel challenges us to look at the heart of our spiritual practices. Jesus warns us not to perform acts of fasting, prayer, or almsgiving just to be admired by others. Instead, our acts of faith must be sincere offerings directed solely to God.
The ashes we receive today symbolize our mortality and our need for conversion. When the priest traces the cross on our foreheads, he reminds us that we come from dust and to dust we shall return. This is a powerful call to humility and repentance—a recognition that life on earth is fleeting and that our true home is with God.
Our Lenten journey begins with an honest assessment of our lives. Sin separates us from God, and Lent invites us to turn away from sin and return to God’s mercy. The ashes call us to a deeper awareness of our human limitations and the urgency of reconciliation.
Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are the three pillars of Lent. They help us grow spiritually by disciplining our bodies, focusing our minds, and opening our hearts to others. But Jesus reminds us that if these practices are done for show, they lose their spiritual meaning.
Fasting goes beyond abstaining from food; it means letting go of selfish desires and unhealthy attachments that keep us from loving God and neighbor fully. When we fast with a humble heart, we grow stronger in spirit and more attentive to God’s voice.
Prayer deepens our relationship with God. It is a conversation with the Father, a way to open our hearts and listen to His guidance. Lent is a time to strengthen our prayer life—not to impress others, but to be transformed by God’s love.
Almsgiving, or giving to those in need, reminds us that our blessings are meant to be shared. Giving helps us grow in generosity and compassion, and it challenges us to see Christ in the poor and marginalized.
Ash Wednesday calls us to live authentically. It asks us to be honest about our faults, to seek forgiveness, and to trust in God’s mercy. No matter how far we have strayed, God waits with open arms, ready to forgive and renew us.
As we begin Lent, let us commit to this holy season with sincere hearts, asking the Holy Spirit to guide us toward true conversion and deeper love for God and neighbor. May this journey lead us to the joy of Easter and new life in Christ.
