Saturday 4 March 2017

ASH WEDNESDAY

In the Catholic Church Liturgical Calendar, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of one of the most important times in remembrance of the Paschal Mystery. Christ offered Himself for the sake of our race. He offered to us that great moment to reconcile with our Creator. It is during the time of Lent, we get to examine the conscious deeply and turn to Jesus Christ.

As the member of the PCJ fraternity, we were privileged to have an Ash Wednesday Eucharistic Celebration together. Fr. Michael, CSC, resided the mass along Fr. Jean, OCD, commencing at 8:30 am on that Wednesday, 1st March, 2017.


With the first reading from Joel 2:12-18, we were all invited to turn to God again with all our heart, fasting, weeping and mourning. The second reading, 2 Cor 5: 20- 6:2, St. Paul urges us to reconcile to God though God's sinless Son. In the Gospel of the day, Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18, we were called upon to be ourselves in all things. We should not be hypocrites at all cost and be prayerful along be generous to all.


We offered our gifts of different kinds as we had promised to help more the misfortune ones. After the offertory session, we all went for the ashes and we were reminded, "You are dust and to dust you will return."



In conclusion, we were encouraged to seek the sacrament of penance more frequently as we prepare for the completion of the great work of salvation.


KELVIN MWAMBURI