Today is to re-live my own faith-life journey that ushered me in joining the Marist family.

And as I see myself in the past, I became in-touched with my faith-life that helped me see clearly my vocation which tells me at this very moment that I am indeed, called… at this very moment…

Indeed, a life reflected is a life lived.

Today is Ash Wednesday. This day marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. You may ask of the significance of this season to your life as a Christian; and for being a Christian, we follow Christ, do what he said and be Christ-like to others.

The Season of Lent is being practiced by Catholics, and most of the Christian denominations around the world. Originating from the fourth century of the Church, this season lasts for 40 days, beginning today until Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday before Easter. It is a time of prayer and preparation for the celebration of Easter, the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

The Season of Lent is marked with prayer, fasting and alms-giving. As we pray, we recognize our own sinfulness as we show our humility before God, thus we practice of putting ashes on the forehead, listen to Christ’s Gospel and live it accordingly. We fast and abstain; we give up or refrain from what we normally do, eating meat, drinking alcohol and excessive sweets. Nowadays, a challenge to abstain from using internet is one of many ways to show our sincerity to that devotion; fasting from what we usually have. Christ asks us to be compassionate, we give alms to the least ones, for “what we do to the least, we also do to him.”

We begin with imposition of ashes, an attitude of being penitent, of being sorry to the sins of omission and commission, for being part of the sin of the society. We pray, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us” (Luke 11:4).

Loving God, we ask for forgiveness of sin, sin of this world and our personal sins. Open our hearts into repentance as we give up anything that attaches us to this world. Help us to be detached from anything that makes us far from you: sin. Forgive us as we forgive those who sinned against us. O, Lord may it begin with me. Amen

Dance and sing with the day! Yup, that’s how I feel at the moment. As soon as I faced the computer to do the tasks today, I played a morning praise to help me lift up my prayers for today. Kum ba yah, my Lord! And the day starts right…

While listening to it, I want to sing with it, I want to dance as feel the energies of the day to be with me. As a religious brother, I’m trying to be faithful and thanks God for letting me see my limitations and weaknesses, strengths and blessings. “Lord, I offer you everything what I have for today. May all my experiences help me to grow in love with you more and more every day with the people I am with and will be with…”

Indeed, being grateful makes a person happy inside! Now, I have the reason to be thankful and joyful.

Thank you Lord for another year of blessings and graces. Forgive me of my faults and help me open my eyes to the beauty of this life in spite and despite of struggles in life, in my vocation and every day dealings. I thought I will never make it today… But I’m still afraid of the unknown, yet this reminds me of my human-ness, that I depend on you. Thank you Lord for today is my birthday…