YOU'RE DUST AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN.

YOU'RE DUST AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN.

Welcome to the Season of Repentance! Let us all call ourselves back to God during this time. May we find mercy before Him and prepare for His great return. Amen. This is a 40-day journey to retrace your steps back to God. To all my Catholic brothers and sisters around the world, welcome to this significant season.

Today, all over the world, Catholics are marked with ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads. These ashes symbolize three important concepts: repentance, mortality, and humility within the Catholic Church.

*The Question is: Why Ashes?*

1. *Symbol of Repentance:* In Job 42:6, it is written, "I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance." Many may see this act merely as a religious ritual, but it serves as a true sign of repentance. Throughout the Bible, ashes signify sorrow for sin. These 40 days urge everyone to repent for their sins and return to the Lord. If your sin is greed, repent! If it is fornication, repent! If it's an unhealthy use of social media, repent! Return to God to foster a loving and deep relationship. Jesus is waiting for you.

2. *Reminder of Mortality:* In the book *Focus on What Matters*, the author states, "See everything you own in life as if it’s not your own; you’re merely borrowing it." We come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing. The ashes remind us of our mortality; we are made from dust and to dust we shall return. This is a reminder that nothing lasts forever, including ourselves. It’s not a time for worldly pleasures but a call to relinquish the mindset of seeking earthly fulfillment.

When the priest applies the ashes, he says, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19), which is a reminder of our mortality.

3. *Call to Conversion:* For believers, this Lent period is significant for three practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus at Easter. It’s an invitation to turn away from sin and draw closer to God. Conversion means a change of heart, mind, and direction—a turning back to God. It involves not only avoiding sin but also growing in love and holiness.

The Church invites us to conversion through Scripture, sacramental participation, daily prayer and reflection, acts of charity, and fasting.

“Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Finally, Lent is about loving others more deeply through good works. May we all find mercy during this period. In Jesus' name. Amen.

You're dust and dust you shall return.

I hope you find this message insightful. 

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