Ash Wednesday
The DRE (Director of Religious Education) in my son's religion program confessed to me that Ash Wednesday sometimes drove her crazy. Her problem is that it seemed that it was the one day in the year that everyone came to church and then were never seen again. She instructed my son's class to ask their families to slowly read the Gospel which is read on Ash Wednesday. At Mass on Ash Wednesday we hear (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) Jesus tell us how we are to give alms, how we are to pray, and how we are to fast. Jesus reminds us to do our good deeds in private and not to "blow our trumpets" because we want to be noticed. The reason we start this season of giving alms, praying, and fasting is that it reminds us of our baptismal commitment: "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel."

After reading the Gospel, my family decided to give alms by visiting the Hunger Site. The Hunger Site is a website that contributes food to hungry people. Try it— you will like it.

http://www.thehungersite.com