Emma Sprague's Witness, Ash Wednesday

Good Afternoon, my name is Emma Sprague, I am a Junior in the Physician Assistant program, and am currently the President of the BCC. Well, I hope that everyone here took an extra three hours on Facebook, ate a dozen extra cookies, and said one massive prayer last night...because today marks the beginning of a very long journey. Many of us are anxiously wondering how it is we are supposed to live 40, yes I did say 40, days without some material thing, that we believe we simply cannot live without. However, while we sit here debating on what it is we are going to give up, and how exactly we are going to remain sane, don't you think there is a bigger picture to our Lenten "sacrifice"? How often is it a common discussion about what we are giving up, and a secret desire to be applauded for our ability to abstain from the item during Lent. However, this is the exact opposite of what we hear in today's Gospel. Jesus says to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them." Jesus challenges his disciples, to give alms, pray and fast in secret. And today, this is the same challenge that I give to all of us. As I have gotten older, I have noticed a personal shift in my actions during Lent. As a young child, I would give up the typical things: junk food, fighting with my brother, watching TV, etc. However, since coming to college, I have noticed a dwindling amount of junk food in my possession due to having a low income, my brother is obviously not around to argue with, and finding time to watch TV comes in dead last when scheduling my days. Noting all of this, I decided my Freshman year, and have done so every year since, to give up a small amount of time each day to sit in silence. No phone, no internet, no school work, no talking...just simply listening to what God wants me to hear. After the silence is over, I say a prayer of thanksgiving, reconciliation, and petitions. Through doing this, I have noticed a sense of enjoyment instead of stress, and peace instead of anxiety, throughout the Lenten season. This sense of enjoyment and peace comes from building and strengthening my relationship with the Lord each day, as He walks by my side each day during this 40 day journey to Easter. Instead of focusing on what others are observing and thinking about our actions during this Lenten season, let us instead focus on what our God is thinking. Let us grow in our faith and in our relationship, through listening to what God is trying to tell us. Let us give alms, pray, and fast in secret, for the Lord will truly repay us in secret.