everything is passing - 8th week tuesday 2019

On this last day of the ordinary time before we enter into the 40 days of lent, we are reminded of one important attitude of every disciple – the readiness to cut, the readiness to detach, the eagerness to live behind anything and everything so that we can follow Jesus more closely.

We can say that our gospel today is a fitting introduction to the rituals of lent. Tomorrow ashes will be imposed on our foreheads and we will hear the words, remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.  We are mortals and everything in our lives, as Qoheleth said in the Book of Wisdom, all things are vanity, all things will come to pass, all things are ashes.  Only one thing will remain and that is our soul which will return to God.

Peter said to the Lord, “Look we have left everything and followed you.” The life of Peter and the apostles is a living reminder of this reality in our life – everything is passing, our wealth is passing, our beauty is passing, our youthfulness is passing, our life is passing.  Putting ashes on our foreheads is a reminder to keep ourselves focused on the essentials, and the essential is Christ.