Towards Ash Wednesday...A Reconciliation With God...

Pope John Paul II said, “Love is the Gift of Self.”

“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

The world’s celebration of Valentine’s Day is over, but people must remember that there are always 364 ‘other’ days in the year for us to continuously express and live out our love to those around us, especially to the One who made us.

Further around the bend of life’s journey, some 3 weeks later, the church will observe Ash Wednesday - the first day of the 40-day Lenten fast; a penitential period for us, pilgrims, to prepare for the joyous celebration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; Easter.

Rev. Lawrence E. Mick shares with us that, “To prepare well for the day we die, we must die now to sin and rise to new life in Christ.  Being marked with ashes at the beginning of Lent indicates our recognition of the need for deeper conversion of our lives during this season of renewal.”

The ashes used on this solemn day come from the palms that were used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration.  These palms are collected by the church prior to the Ash Wednesday service and blessed using Holy Water and infused with incense.


“I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.” (Daniel 9:3, NAB)


“…they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.” (Matthew 11:21, NAB)

As these ashes are symbolically marked or dabbed on our forehead with the sacred sign of the cross, we are invited and reminded of the prayerful words, "Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return." (Genesis 3:19)

It is interesting to note that come the year 2018, the church’s solemn celebration of Ash Wednesday will fall smack on the secular commercial observance of Valentine’s Day; February 14.  Similarly in the years 2024 and 2029, these two contrasting days will coincide…I humbly stand to be corrected.  Ashes, fasting, repentance versus red roses, chocolates, lavish spending – what a paradox we pilgrims will face!

The solemn holy day continues to recall the quiet events that lead to the Passion of Christ whereas in the worldly observance of Valentine's…perhaps, Christ is forgotten all together amidst the distracting noises of the commercialisation and materialism.

The purpose of fasting and self denial during Lent is spiritual focus, self discipline, imitation of Christ, penance, reconciliation and ultimately, conversion – turning around, wholly and completely towards God.


Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that, “Man is dust and to dust he shall return, but he is precious dust in God’s eyes, because God created man for immortality.”

As we journey towards Ash Wednesday, let us always choose to respond “yes” to the One who gives us our existence, to freely love and serve Him…to follow Christ in what we say, feel, think and do; instead of being simply ‘seduced’ and 'enslaved' by the world.


The free and saving love of Jesus Christ…is a love that the world today, cannot understand...

Meaningful Valentine...Simply Let The Journey Begin...

"Run to the mountain;

Shed those scales on your eyes

That hinder you from seeing God"

- Dante, "Purgatoria" The Divine Comedy



The essence of living is that life is simply a journey.  Who knows where journeys really begin?

I remember many who are suffering from terminal illness, seemingly living (or not living) on 'borrowed' time.  When we are so-called 'suffering', we are often much more receptive to change - we feel things more acutely; desperation, some call it.  It is easier to shed the 'scales' from our eyes.  However, when things are perceived to be going well for us, it is natural for many of us to close up...even to the extent of finding it easy to resist God.

Journeying through life involves, more often than not, taking a step into the unknown; into the mysterious dark.  Part of the flawed human condition is that we do sometimes fail.  Failing is part and parcel of our journey through life; as a result of our mistakes, hasty judgments, poor decisions, badly chosen comments...and naturally, our stubborness in doing things our own way.

When we 'fail', we simply get discouraged and drown in regret.  We seldom can see the blessing of failures...which often leads to a greater truth.  We seldom forgive ourselves for how we have failed, we are seldom merciful to ourselves or people we have harmed through our selfich actions.  In the Holy Bible, we encounter many whom Jesus has called - poor people who were flawed and failed in the eyes of the world - ordinary people!

If we deem our journey through life as 'perfect' and we are self reliant on our own 'thinking', resourcing and capabilities, we find that their relationship with God is distant, shallow and superficial.  The world often distracts us into believing that we are 'full' of everything, strong and in control.  When we are "full", we "fool" ourselves into an illusion that we are one class above the rest; a caste higher, more superior...so full that one is not receptive of anything...life means journeying based on our own terms.

In life, flaws and failures often humbly brings us to our knees.  Similarly, illnesses, heartaches, broken families, poverty and death will do the same.  We lose our will power, our resources to live, to journey...

When one is tempted to feel like the greatest failure in the world, know that God can always be relied on to welcome us, to fill us; we must let God come into our flawed life...to simply accompany us on this journey. 

Your flaws are actually your greatest treasures - like grains of sand in oyster shells that must grate and irritate to become pearls.  Like it or not, such imperfections actually keep our ego in check - a much needed daily reminder of how much we need the grace of God.  By becoming aware of our own weaknesses, we become more compassionate to the inadequacies of others on the same journey.  We are human beings, all the same.

Only we ourselves honestly know whether we have actually begun our journey with God, only we know whether we have shed the 'scales' off the eyes of our hearts; uncling all our worldly clingings. 

One thing certain is that God reaches out to us in the way that God has always reached out to human beings - through our ordinary, simple, flawed lives.

Our pilgrimage journey actually begins when we are empty and awake to the presence of God in every aspect of our flawed lives...

"Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people.  It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life." 

- Anne Lamott

Let your journey with God begin this Valentine...

Valentine's Day Meaning...Celebrate Love!

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, on February 14 to be precise.  This special day of observance is supposedly rooted (but not endorsed) in Catholic history, but the true history of the birth of Valentine’s Day is not very well known.

Much of the material surrounding this Valentine's Day is pure legendary.


Nowadays, Valentine’s Day, has been so much commercialized and generally associated with red & pink colors, hearts, cupid, expensive splurging of gifts, roses, chocolates, candy, sweet cards for the romantically involved or infatuated...not to mention lots n lots of hugs and kisses...

Valentine's Day is more of a secular observance rather than a Christian celebration event.  It is not the feast day of St Valentine.  It is understood that the Catholic Church has actually removed the memorial of St Valentine's feast since the promulgation of the new Roman liturgical calendar back in the year 1969, although his name remains on the list of saints and martyrs.

Nevertheless, it can still be an opportune time for all of us to take a little break on this journey, to specially remember our gift of love and those whom love is shared with.  Let the world take some time off to celebrate love!  Love, not war!


The name given to this special day is supposedly derived from a Roman Catholic priest, Saint Valentine.  Although the Catholic Church recognizes three different martyred saints named Valentine, the story of one emerges as the likely origin of Valentine's Day sometime back in the 14th century.


Nevertheless, Valentine was a simple holy priest who served in Rome during the short reign of Emperor Claudius II.  He believed that marriage was a holy institution and that two people in love should be able to receive that blessing from God.  Hence, Valentine was the friend of lovers in every district of Rome.

However, the Emperor, who reigned from 268 to 270 A.D., discovered that single men made better soldiers.  The Emperor believed that married men were too emotionally, physically and mentally attached to their wives, and were thus, less apt to be good soldiers in his army.  Therefore, he proceeded to set out to build his army by forbidding young men to marry.

However, Valentine continued to perform marriages in secret until Emperor Claudius found out what was happening and imprisoned the priest.  The Emperor offered Valentine an ultimatum: bow to the Roman pagan gods and stop performing these marriages, or die.


In the process somehow, Emperor Claudius took a liking to this prisoner until Valentine even tried to convert the Emperor.  At this point, the Emperor condemned Valentine to be beaten with clubs and stoned, and later on, beheaded.


According to tradition, while Valentine waited in prison for his execution, he corresponded with those under his care by sending letters and love notes to his parishioners.  During this same time, he fell in love with a girl who visited him during his imprisonment.

Ancient sources have it that this was the blind daughter of the jailer.  Hearing of Jesus Christ being the Light of the World, the jailer, also knowing of Valentine's deep devotion to God, pleaded if the priest would heal his child.


By the grace of God, Valentine miraculously restored the girl's sight.  Valentine was also able to convert both father and daughter to Christianity.


Stories have it that Valentine wrote the girl a note on February 14, 269 A.D., the day he was to be beaten and beheaded, and signed it “From your Valentine”.  Thus, the tradition of sending love letters with the now traditional close was born.


Saint Valentine is the patron Saint of love, young people, happy marriages, engaged couples, bee keepers, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, lovers, plague and travelers.


More importantly, Valentine’s Day can be an opportune time to remember, ponder and celebrate the gift of love…the many ways God shares His gift of love with us on this pilgrimage through life…and of course our faithful Valentine companion, the Queen of Roses…Blessed Mother Mary.

As we approach this very special day of love and romance, let us not get totally distracted by the hearts, roses, chocolates and love notes - let us also remember to offer this special prayer to Saint Valentine:

“Dear Lord, who art high in the Heavens,


Giver of Love and Passion,


And He who strings the heart’s cords,


Lead the Lovers this day, February ten plus four.


The day during the month of two,


When the date is the perfect number of God


Greater two souls and two hearts.

Some Loves are fleeting,


But that which is built on you will never fail.


So guide the Lovers to know what is to be.


Your truths the Lovers’ mouths should speak,


For Your truth is that which is honest to the heart.

Only this, then, should pass over the red lips of the Lovers.


You art, the Lovers simply a medium.


It is only with True Hearts that You can create a Masterpiece,


So let the Lovers remember that their Soul’s Desire


Is the one for which You light their Fire.


And let it be You who creates the Art of the Lovers;


The art of two into one.”  Amen.



“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image.  Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.”
(Thomas Merton)