First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 26, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness
Sermon summary: This past Ash Wednesday, we had three thousand people come for ashes in our parish. Priests always wonder why so many people come for ashes. Ashes are a simple reminder of our mortality.
Ashes are the final symbol in our culture, a tradition that is a link with our religion. We ask ourselves, there had better be more than ashes in life. The ashes are a way of reminding us that there is more to life than this life.
It is a way to remember that life is about more than money, things and sex. The world may tell us its own version of what love is, but real love is about sacrifice — giving up things for those we care about, or for those we don’t even know. Ashes make us ask ourselves if what we are doing is getting us to heaven.
See all the homilies of Fr. Brankin.