On Ash Wednesday, faithful are reminded that they do not just live for this world, but for God, said Bishop Iffert

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

The observance of Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, marks the beginning of the Lenten season. The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, opened the season with a morning Mass — joining together parishioners, guests, Curia staff and students of Covington Latin School.

Ash Wednesday, which is observed with prayer and fasting, is known famously for the ashes distributed at Ash Wednesday Mass — during which the faithful are reminded of their own mortality with words from Genesis: “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Bishop John Iffert served as both celebrant and homilist for the Mass and began his homily referencing the book of Joel — from which one of the day’s readings was taken.

He first described the first part of Joel, where Joel “warns the nation of Judah.”

Bishop Iffert said, “He warns them that they need to repent, that they have turned away from their God … He calls upon them to fast in a way that produces a long change in themselves and in their relationship to God.”

Bishop Iffert then described the second part, which chronicles God’s response to this great fast.

“Here God moves with mercy,” Bishop Iffert said, “and the second proclamation of the book of Joel is that the Holy Spirit of God has filled the nation and once again dwells with his people … and then he (Joel) announces that faithfulness to God has brought a renewal of relationship with God and the strengthening of God’s spirit in the people. One can hardly ask for a better Lent.”

During the Lenten season, “We are called to turn back to the Lord,” said Bishop Iffert. “We have all of these practices and traditions that we keep in place, starting today, with the placement of ashes on our forehead … We are reminded of our own mortality and that we live not just for this world, but that we live for God.”

“This is the call of Lent for us,” he said, “and today, we ask for the grace to respond faithfully.”

Bishop Iffert continued his homily referencing an op-ed where a Catholic man admits to not going to Church on Sunday or praying most days. “But don’t judge him too quickly,” Bishop Iffert quoted. “He comes to church every Ash Wednesday, and he receives the ashes.”

“Well, that’s good for him,” said Bishop Iffert. “If you’re in that position, good for you. But what good is Lent if it brings no change? What good is Lent if it brings no reform in our lives? What good is Lent if it doesn’t position us to receive with gratitude the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon us, to fill our lives with grace and goodness — to do nothing less than open us up to a more complete relationship with God.”

“That’s the journey of life,” he said, urging the faithful to not only give up chocolates or sweets or alcohol for Lent, but to most of all “embrace the love of Christ Jesus in our hearts, to be completely conformed to his love for the world and to behave that way with one another.”

“Then,” Bishop Iffert said, “this Lent will be a holy season, and our repentance will be true, and the Lord will pour out his Spirit and have mercy on his people and lead our nation in the way of virtue and righteousness — God’s will will be known among us again. What else can we hope for?”