So as I'm finishing up the math which challenges me to no end, but thanks to our math savvy extraordinaire Men's Editor, I still have kept some sanity tonight. I'll be sure to let you know how that goes.
So it's about 12:25 pm here and I realize that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. This year I am extremely ELATED to be able to attend Mass in the morning to receive my ashes and where them all day long. With having been home-schooled ( we just saw each others ashes) and waiting for my dad to get home from work ( which meant we went to the night mass) we would get our ashes wear it for a few hours then before you know it they were washed off before bed. THIS YEAR, I have a history class at night so I will be unable to attend the Mass with my family but I will be receiving them at 9am.
The reason why I'm so happy about receiving my ashes so early in the morning is because it means I get to WITNESS. I get to show :
So it's about 12:25 pm here and I realize that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. This year I am extremely ELATED to be able to attend Mass in the morning to receive my ashes and where them all day long. With having been home-schooled ( we just saw each others ashes) and waiting for my dad to get home from work ( which meant we went to the night mass) we would get our ashes wear it for a few hours then before you know it they were washed off before bed. THIS YEAR, I have a history class at night so I will be unable to attend the Mass with my family but I will be receiving them at 9am.
The reason why I'm so happy about receiving my ashes so early in the morning is because it means I get to WITNESS. I get to show :
"Remember, man, that you are dust and unto dust you shall return."
My heart has been pulling and yearning to witness and I just keep asking God, "How?, How would you like me to do this?" I think he's answering me my giving me opportunities to do so. This I take as one of them. The whole lent season is one.
This year, more than ever, I find myself powerfully reminded of the need for conversion, fasting, and prayer. Lent is the time to repent- to struggle, to fast, pray, and see our sinfulness and return to God's loving arms begging mercy and forgiveness. The sacrifices of lent and the suffering encountered therein take different manifestations each year for me, but each one with it's own revelations and poignant lessons. Last year it was being in awe that Jesus is there no matter what. We have slapped Him in the face with our pride and selfishness and turning Him away for ourselves but no matter what He will ALWAYS be there. Only God could send a Son so humble that he would save the ones who crucified Him.
Lent is here to remind us about yearning for God, seeking His will, and recognizing that I'm just as sinful and wretched as ever. This year is no different...already full of suffering. Gracefilled? yes. An inspiration to pray and fast all the harder? YES!! Hard? Absolutely. Do I know that my love, the man I'm in LOVE with will be there for me, forever and into eternity? YES! I am ready for God to transform me once again, and make me new.
This year, more than ever, I find myself powerfully reminded of the need for conversion, fasting, and prayer. Lent is the time to repent- to struggle, to fast, pray, and see our sinfulness and return to God's loving arms begging mercy and forgiveness. The sacrifices of lent and the suffering encountered therein take different manifestations each year for me, but each one with it's own revelations and poignant lessons. Last year it was being in awe that Jesus is there no matter what. We have slapped Him in the face with our pride and selfishness and turning Him away for ourselves but no matter what He will ALWAYS be there. Only God could send a Son so humble that he would save the ones who crucified Him.
Lent is here to remind us about yearning for God, seeking His will, and recognizing that I'm just as sinful and wretched as ever. This year is no different...already full of suffering. Gracefilled? yes. An inspiration to pray and fast all the harder? YES!! Hard? Absolutely. Do I know that my love, the man I'm in LOVE with will be there for me, forever and into eternity? YES! I am ready for God to transform me once again, and make me new.
"LLENE ESTE LUGAR" translated - "Fill this place"
There is a Spanish song that I heard about two years ago called, Llene este lugar. Basically, the whole song is a repetition. Yet, you can't seem to say it enough. Why? It means FILL THIS PLACE! When I was fourteen and gave my life to Jesus at a retreat in Steubenville, Ohio the leader of the retreat was saying, "Come Holy Spirit. Fill this place" He said these word over and over and over again, yet you couldn't hear it enough. Then all of a sudden the band yells, "Here He comes! Here He comes" Boom. The music starts and the doors are open with the priest holding Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I knew that I would know no greater love than this all of my life. He had filled every place in my soul, mind, and body. I am His.
This Lent, I'm ready to purify and cleanse myself to be made new again. Are you?
Bianca Wohleking
This Lent, I'm ready to purify and cleanse myself to be made new again. Are you?
Bianca Wohleking