Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated
Mass on Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Feb. 26.
In his homily, he encouraged Massgoers to follow the time-tested spiritual disciplines
as proclaimed by Jesus in the Gospel: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
“For these spiritual disciplines to work,
we must actually do them on a daily basis, ever dependent upon God’s grace,” he
said. “If we live in such a way, then we will experience the transformation and
conversion to which Lent calls us; we will be drawn into a more intimate union
with the Lord and we will be filled with abundant Lenten blessings.”
He expressed hope they would take this
penitential day to remember God’s love. “Spend today not telling the Lord all
that you’re going to do for Lent but rather by reflecting on that great truth —
God loves you,” said Bishop Burbidge. “His love is perfectly revealed in his
son Jesus whose cross we are invited to take up especially throughout these
sacred days as we follow him to Calvary and to his victory at Easter.”
