I begin with a confession: I am an incurable romantic, and especially on this Wednesday of coincidences, I am happy to be Catholic and romantic. How nice are the details and external gestures of affection that people show on a day like today! I am fascinated by how friends and couples share flowers, chocolates or tacos served on heart-shaped trays that express mutual affection and appreciation. 

My favorite demonstration of love for this date is represented by the Catholic faithful who wear their ashes on their foreheads. Our ashes are a beautiful sign that reminds us of the immense love that God has for us and our commitment to actively participate in a relationship of love and deep friendship. Like the external gestures that are shared this February 14, it is of utmost importance to ensure that our ashes do not remain superficial and become forgotten. Today we are given an invitation to walk with Jesus and enter into a relationship with our God.

We begin Lent by participating in the Eucharist. At the celebration, the words of the prophet Joel resonated intensely: they highlighted the generosity, compassion and mercy of our God, with whom he invited us to intertwine with all our hearts. In the Gospel (Mt 6, 1-6 and 16-18) Jesus warns us about the superficiality of external acts. Our invitation this Ash Wednesday is to accept, wholeheartedly, the deep love and friendship that God has for us. This seems easy, but there are many obstacles along the way. The question we ask ourselves on this day of Lent is: How can we remove from our route everything that makes it difficult for us to establish a deeper relationship with God? 

The beginning of the year gave me three examples of people who have sought to establish that deep relationship with God: the final vow celebrations of six sisters of the Dominican Sisters of Go Vap Vietnam, the 'yes' of my sister Phuong Vu, and the ordination of the new auxiliary bishop of Boston, Monsignor Cristiano G. Borro Barbosa. Despite the abundant challenges in life, facing noise and distractions, these people prioritized an existence characterized by prayer, contemplation and action.

My dear sister Phuong, originally from Vietnam, worked as a chemical engineer before responding to God's call to religious life. Along the way, she has overcome great obstacles and hardships, finding strength in prayer and meditation. She inspires me with her life and dedication to helping the migrant community of New Haven (Connecticut, United States). Through her work at our learning center, Springs Learning Center, she shares God's love in meaningful ways. For Phuong, prayer is essential to fully participate in the divine invitation. Like her, the other Dominican sisters of Go Vap are witnesses of saying yes to a deep relationship with God.

Finally, the ordination ceremony of Auxiliary Bishop Barbosa conveyed to me the joy of following God. Barbosa, a native of Brazil, is an example of a good shepherd. His dedication to the Latino and Brazilian community in Boston is based on prayer, study and the invitation to act, following the example of Jesus. 

Each of these ceremonies constitutes a testimony of the individual relationship with God, an intense commitment in the pilgrimage along a path full of obstacles and joys, all under divine guidance. The commitments and affirmations of these lives move me and serve as inspiration in my own journey. These experiences and the public engagement that accompanies them prompt me to reflect during the Lenten season. Although the pilgrimage involves sacrifices, the goal implies celebrations in our lives. These celebrations are rooted in God and the dynamism of a life full of love.

Today we create awareness that the pilgrimage is not easy, but despite this, God walks with us, willing to share his mercy and immense love. With divine help and our commitment as faithful followers of Jesus, we remember that despite the challenges and difficulties, when we reach the end of the road we can celebrate because God is with us. Throughout the journey, we face obstacles, challenges and falls that we cannot overcome alone. If we remain attentive and committed, the route will be full of delights, celebrations and interactions that show us the love and company of God. Our faith gives us the privilege of knowing that the journey culminates in the celebration of Easter hope.

My personal challenge is to fully accept God's invitation to love with all my heart without expecting to be loved, and to move away from external acts that only last in the moment and on the surface. For me, this Ash Wednesday and the Day of Love and Friendship represent the opportunity to fully immerse myself in liturgical pilgrimage. During this season of Lent, I will pray that we take time to reflect on the abundant love God gives us. Inspired by that divine love, let us respond to God's invitation to act and live our lives respecting and loving his creation and in it our neighbors.

On this Day of Love and Friendship I feel deeply loved and I perceive a sincere invitation to share that love. Although it may sound a bit sentimental, I consider that February 14, which in 2024 coincided with Ash Wednesday, is a wonderful date to begin our Lenten liturgical season.

Published in the Global Sisters Report Espanol, February 14, 2024