Remember! You are earth!

On Ash Wednesday we are smudged with earth and reminded of our origin and our destiny.

It is a reality check as we begin our trek through the desert on our way to the new life:

EARTH....DESERT....DEATH THROUGH EASTER WATER- AND UP TO NEW LIFE.

WHAT ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL LENTEN DEVOTIONS?

Ashes, fasting, Friday abstinence, almsgiving?

Why do we need them? Ashes are humbling. They bring us "down to earth." In our day when the earth is degraded, poisoned, pollouted, we need the ashes more than ever to remind us that when we pollute the earth, we do the same for our children, for they are OF the earth, as we all are.

So instead of giving up the contents of bottles, and plastic containers,

We might better give up using plastic water bottles which now litter the oceans in immense clumps of prmanent pollution.

And rather than thinking of Lent as a time of self punishment, rather think of it as a pruning that produces new life and new love. When we fast or abstain do it on behalf of the hungry of our world and donate the savings from eating less to Bread For The World.

{Google them at Bread For The World.org and see what they do dor the hungry/}

ALMSGIVING:

LENT IS THE TRADITIONAL TIME FOR US TO BE MORE GENEROUS TO THE POOR AND THE HUNGRY..

{SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE KINO bORDER INITIATIVE}.

First Sunday of Lent:

 "The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for 40 days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. MK 1:12

We too live in the midst of wild beasts!

ISIS....Racial Hatred, Addictions, Spousal Abuse, are all wild beasts who "prowl about seeking whom they may devour."

So we seek Christ in the deserts of our lives, to walk with him, pray with him, eat with him at the Eucharistic table so that we may not be devoured by the appetites of others or of our own wayward appetites.

And so we pray:

O God,

help me to take time

to "get down to earth,"

to simplify my lifestyle,

to let go of pretenses,

to retreat from consumerism,

to fast and abstain--

a time for rending hearts,

not garments.

Amen

 {From North American Prayer Book)

Almsgiving: There is a poignant picture of Mexicans reaching through the border fence to recieve the Eucharist as it is passed across the border into their hands.

On the other side of the border, Father Sean Carroll S.J. runs a half way house, "KBI = Kino Border Initiative" for expelled migrants wh arrive at the border penniless and bedraggled. If you would like to join me in this effort, I serve on the Dinner Commottee for the Feb. 28 Dinner that

raises funds to support his work,  make out a check to KBI and mail to:

KBI Dinner: Jenny Carillo

2102 North Country Club Unit 9

Tucson AZ 85716

or visit their website at: infokinoborder initiative.org