Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We begin Lent on Wednesday, February 17, with the imposition of ashes on our forehead, the outward sign of our desire to be converted and reform our lives into the image of Christ.  We hear the words, "remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return."  We will end our Lenten journey with the Easter Triduum and the joyful proclamation "Alleluia...He has been raised from the dead."  In between, for forty days, through prayer, penance, and almsgiving, we prepare ourselves to commemorate joyfully Christ's triumph over sin and death at Easter.  Through ongoing conversion, we also prepare ouselves to share in that triumph in Heaven, with the risen Lord.  From His birth in Bethlehem to His death and resurrection in Jerusalem, Jesus' entire life on earth was marked by obedience to the Father, cooperation with the Holy Spirit and selfless love for us.  This included the good and bad alike. 

Our lives have not always been marked by such consistent obedience and selfless love.  You and I need Lent, a blessed season through which we listen and follow God's call to return to Him, grow in holiness, and center our lives on that which is most important for our salvation.  The Catholic faith is the greatest gift we have received.  A life lived in accordance with that faith is the greatest gift we give back to God, our families, our communities, and the Church we love.  Lent is the time to perfect the gift of our lives to God and one another.

When we have renewed our faith and live our lives in accordance with it, the Easter words "be not afraid," peace be with you" and "the Lord is truly risen Alleluia" deepen their meaning, increase their power, and inspire our lives with joy and insurmountable hope.  Such faith has inspired the saints and brightened our world through the ages and can continue to do so today.  I pray that the spiritual discipline of a good Lent may lead all of us to a deeper faith and a renewed sense of hope for our life and our beloved Church.

This sacred season is a good time for prayer, meditation and to act on reconciliation.  We are also invited to take small but practical steps to make strides to be reconciled with God and one another.  I am sure that because of COVID-19 many of us have not been to confession.  Lent is the time to make sure that we find a time for reconciliation.  Lent is the time to go to daily Mass, adoration to join our faith community, and to pray for ourselves, our Church and our nation.  We can have a dialogue and silent time with God in the quiet of our hearts and walk in His presence, and He will enable us to do His will.  Most of all, it is a time to bring change in our lives and to serve God and each other.  This includes not only giving up things that we love, but also taking on the tasks that we otherwise don't like to do.

With every prayerful best wish during the Lenten season.

Sincerely,

Fr. Ayub Francis Nasar