In our tradition, we celebrate the beginning of Lent as Ash Wednesday. Another word for Lent is spring. The poet Rilke writes, “It’s spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”

One metaphor for Lent is spring cleaning. It is a time when your home sparkles with radiance and a fresh sense of newness. We prepare ourselves with acts of love shown to all living beings.

While we celebrate these sacred moments of Easter, we are also reminded of the reality of death on this Ash Wednesday. As we give and receive ashes and are blessed, we pray that we may see the transformation of ashes across Ukraine. We pray for these brave people, that they and all the peoples of the world may find the blessings of peace.