Lent is a time to rise from ones throne, to laid aside ones robe and to put on sackcloth and to sit in Ashes

Gospel Thoughts*

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : First Week: Wednesday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 11:29-32*

*FIRST READING - Jon 3:1-10*

*Lent is a time to rise from ones throne, to laid aside ones robe and to put on sackcloth and to sit in Ashes*

*1) The City of Nineveh and the King of Nineveh*

God sent a strong message to the city of Nineveh through prophet Jonah. 

God said *“Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,”*

Hearing this people of Nineveh, believed in God and proclaimed a fast which would be observed by all 

When the news came to the King of Nineveh the King *rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes.*

As a result all of them were able to change their life and God also changed His mind and didn't punish the people of Nineveh. 

*2) Symbolic meaning of Rising from the Throne*

These words are very much applicable to all of us. 

The king rose from his throne. We should also rise from our throne in order to change our life 

We need to rise from the throne of anger 

We need to rise from the throne of jealousy

We need to rise from the throne of gossip 

We need to rise from the throne of lack of trust 

We need to rise from the throne of revenge

We need to rise from the throne of arrogance

Unless we rise from these thrones we are unable to change our life 

*3) The Symbolic meaning of laying aside ones robe*

Lent is a time to laying aside ones robe. The king of Nineveh did it. We are called upon to do the same during this Lenten time 

We need to lay aside the robe of the desire for wordly things 

We need to lay aside the robe of selfishness 

We need to lay aside the robe of hypocrisy

We need to lay aside the robe of sensual pleasure 

We need to lay aside the robe of laziness

We need to lay aside the robe of comfortable life 

We need to lay aside the robe of the desire for power, money, wealth, name and fame 

Unless we lay aside these robes we can't experience God in our life 

*4) The symbolic meaning of covering oneself with sack clothes and sitting in the Ashes*

In the Bibke we see Sackcloth and ashes were used as an outward sign of mourning, repentance. 

So we need to wear the sackcloth of mourning and repentance

So lent is a time to wear sackcloth and to sit in the ashes to repent for our jealousy, anger, revengeful attitudes, arrogance, laziness, desire for wordly things 

Wear the sackcloth of humility, simplicity, love, sacrifice, service, truthfulness, trust, forgiveness inoder to change ones life 

 *5) My Life in the Lent*

Am I ready to rise from the throne  my own comfortable zone? 

Am I ready to lay aside the robe of wordly things and wordly standards? 

Am I ready to put on the sackcloths of the heavenly things? 

Am I ready to sit in the Ashes of the values of the Kingdom of God? 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*