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Hey there, Sprouse.. Today is Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Today is also the first day of Lent. Today is Ash Wednesday. A quick reminder, Ash Wednesday is one of the two days that the church asks us to fast. So if you are in

good health and you aren't a tiny little child, then I ask you to fast today. We abstain from

eating meat, but also we are asked to truly allow ourselves to feel hungry today, to eat less,

to eat smaller meals, or even maybe to skip a meal. Today is also a wonderful day to go to Mass to receive our ashes.

And so before we talk about this week's content, we're talking about anger, the first of the

seven deadly sins. Let's talk a little bit about what happens at Mass on Ash Wednesday.

So as you know, we call today Ash Wednesday because we don't just process up for communion.

We also process up before that in the Mass to receive ashes.

We go forward and the priest or one of the, one of the people helping

at our church will put their thumb into ashes. And then on our forehead, they will trace the sign

of the cross, right? Oftentimes they say words like repent and believe in the gospel. And so these are important words, but why, right? Why do we mark ourselves in this way? Well, it's a beautiful reason and it has two parts to it. So the first part of the reason why we get ashes is because ashes remind us of our death. As humans, we know that our

lives are limited. We will not live forever. People get sick or they're hurt, but we all die at some

point. So it's a reminder, you know, don't put too much effort into making this life as comfortable and as successful or as honorable as you're trying to do because it's all going to end.

We will end our existence on this world at some point.

But then the next part is even more important.

So yes, the ashes remind us of our death, but the ashes are put in

on our head in the shape of a cross. And what does the cross mean? The cross means that God

loved me enough to become a person, to walk this world, to suffer and die for me on a cross so that my sins might be forgiven.

I might be redeemed and welcomed into eternal life after this life is done.

So that's what those ashes mean on your head.

They mean, I am a sinner and I will die one day, but I have a savior.

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