It's now Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent

[pres2032]

Then the man they called Judas Iscariot

Went to the chief priests,

and said 'What will you give me to betray

Him to you?' They paid him thirty pieces of silver.

And from that moment,

he began to look out for an opportunity

To betray Him.

[CBHagman]

1. Received message of repentance at ash distribution.

Instead of "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return," I was given an admonition to reform my life and seek repentance, or words to that effect. One year, the priest said, on giving the ashes, that we should reform our lives according to the Gospel. I much prefer that message, which is something that goes beyond the reminder that we are all mortal. What are we to do in the here and now?