Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Mt. 9:15

As a child, I remember my grandma turning off my music or flashing stern looks at my boisterous laughter during the Easter Triduum. In my four-year-old eyes, she was, for lack of a better term, a party pooper. Yet, as I continue to grow, I find my outlook on her seemingly harsh ways transform into a deep respect for her reverence of our Lord’s ultimate sacrifice. In the same way we mourn the loss of loved ones, she was living in her season of solemnity, fasting in remembrance of Christ our bridegroom who was taken away as a sacrifice for all sins.

But while this verse ends on a somber note as it foreshadows the Lord’s destiny, I see this verse as a beacon of hope. I see this verse as an invitation to rejoice when we are in the presence of the Lord; to rejoice when we encounter Him in the Real Presence of the Eucharist.

So this season, as we enter this season of solemnity, may we also find hope in the Lord, hope that He will rise again, hope that we can rejoice again as we meet Him at the altar every Sunday.

– Anonymous

Thursday After Ash Wednesday

In today’s first reading Moses said to his people “If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish.” When I used to hear that people in the Bible worshiped other gods, I’d think that this could never be me. However, I found that I’ve committed the same sin multiple instances by occupying my time so fully with other things in my life that I barely (if at all) have time to pray. I’ve realized that anything I put before God is a god for me because it is, that which I prioritize, what I give importance to. This quarter I’ve been in a situation where I’ve been forced to see this deep-rooted flaw as well as the opportunity to grow closer to God. Letting go of activities to take care of myself and my relationship with God has taken more willpower than most of the goals I’ve tried to achieve before but none of these goals have been as rewarding as the love and blessings I’ve obtained through the effort to spend time with God and myself. Today’s Gospel reminds us of when Jesus said to his disciples: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” It certainly feels like I’m losing parts of myself as I go through this journey but I’m realizing that every gap is filled and what is there better than God to fill in those gaps.

May we be open and intentional in letting God work with and through us today by simply letting Him in and giving Him some of our time.

– Anonymous