Fr. Bob’s Spiritual Reflection–2/18/2026
In the Midst of it all, He rose.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
The picture shows the many sides of the First Season of Lent… The dark clouds of suffering that Jesus endured; the rough waters He traveled; and the beauty of the Sun in His Resurrection.
Lent is one of the five liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter. Today is the beginning of this great season of Lent. The distribution of ashes today is such a reminder of the mortality of our life. We are merely on a journey to paradise and Lent can be a reminder of that journey.
Jesus spent 40 days preparing for his vocation to suffer and die for our sins and thus give us a ‘ticket’ to the kingdom. These 40 days can be a time to prepare for His victory at Easter. Hopefully it is a time for prayer and fasting and alms giving and most important of all….repentance and the seeking of God’s forgiveness through the sacraments. With these small sacrifices, the beauty of Easter arises….the celebration of His victory.