•Lenten Season Begins with Reflection on Faith, Morality, and National Challenges
Hundreds of Catholic faithful in Nairobi gathered in churches on Wednesday to observe Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season, a period of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving that culminates in the celebration of Easter Sunday.
At the Holy Family Minor Basilica, where a solemn Ash Wednesday Mass was celebrated, Rev. Fr. Michael Ndichu urged the faithful to use the season as an opportunity for self-examination and spiritual renewal.
Call for Repentance and Return to God
Fr. Ndichu challenged Christians to reflect on their relationship with God, warning that many had strayed from their faith.
“We have gone astray. Let us not cling to our own ways but listen to the voice calling us to repent and return to the Lord. There is nothing one has done that is greater than God’s mercy,” he said.
He lamented that in today’s society, many people behave as if God does not exist, filling the void left by faith with greed, corruption, and selfishness.
He criticized those who misuse their positions of power for personal gain while ignoring the suffering of the less fortunate.
“The mess we find ourselves in is of our own making. Ask yourselves—what is your contribution to the challenges our nation faces today?” he posed to the congregation.
The Meaning of Lent: Fasting, Prayer, and Charity
Fr. Ndichu reminded the faithful that Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, calling on them to embrace not just physical fasting from food but also spiritual fasting from vices such as gossip, dishonesty, corruption, and insincerity.
“Fasting is not only about food but also about refraining from sinful ways such as gossip, corruption, and deceit. Let us also fast from greed and selfishness and open our hearts to generosity,” he urged.
He further emphasized that true acts of charity should be done sincerely and discreetly, without seeking recognition.
“Give alms for the benefit of others without blowing a trumpet for your generosity,” he advised.
A Reminder of Mortality: The Ashes Ceremony
During the Mass, priests administered ashes on the foreheads of the faithful in the shape of a cross—a symbol of penance, humility, and a reminder of human mortality.
Rev. Fr. Boniface Kimani explained the significance of this ritual, reminding the faithful of their temporary nature on Earth.
“The ashes are a sign of remorse, repentance, and preparation for the reality of death. We are all sinners; therefore, we should ask for forgiveness and mercy from God,” he said.
He added that the ashes, made from the blessed palm branches used during the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations, serve as a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who approach Him with repentant hearts.
“This should not be a time of pride but of humility. Whatever we possess in this world should not make us arrogant, but rather, it should remind us of our duty to help others,” Fr. Kimani said.
The Historical and Biblical Significance of Lent
The Lenten season, which lasts 40 days, is a time of reflection and preparation for Easter.
It mirrors the 40 days and nights Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness, resisting temptations from the devil while devoting Himself to prayer.
The practice of using ashes on Ash Wednesday has its origins in Jewish traditions of penance and mourning.
In ancient times, ashes symbolized grief, humility, and repentance, as seen in several Biblical passages where people covered themselves in ashes as a sign of sorrow for their sins.
Today, Christians worldwide continue to observe Lent by praying, fasting, and engaging in acts of charity, aiming to grow closer to God while renewing their commitment to righteousness.
A Call to Action: Humility and Social Responsibility
Fr. Ndichu concluded his sermon with a challenge to the congregation: to use the Lenten season not only for personal transformation but also for social change.
He urged Christians to become instruments of peace, justice, and kindness in a country grappling with moral and social challenges.
“We must take the lead in being charitable and taking care of each other. Let us fight the battle against pride, anger, gluttony, and lust, and instead, pray for the gift of humility,” he urged.
As the faithful left the Basilica, their foreheads marked with ashes, they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose—to repent, reflect, and renew their faith as they embarked on their Lenten journey toward Easter.
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