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. It’s a spring cleaning of our souls.
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.