Ash Wednesday? Oh! month of restrictions.

Years fly by, and we end up starting lent season with some resolutions to restrict certain things in life. Jesus also begans His ministry by fasting for 40days. As I was reflecting on the 3 questions which the devil asked Jesus I felt like jolting down some notes for me. 

What was ash used for in the Old testament?

When an individual would put ash on themselves, it was to convey that he/she is undergoing repentance. We see so many examples of people and prophets from the Old Testament using ash as a symbol of repentance.

Question one:- The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

Luke 4:3 NRSV

We often feel that if we have money today, we can do all things. Money isn't bad, but craving for it way too much is bad. Jesus also ate bread in His public life but here He refrains it during His fasting. 

Life puts us in lot of dilemma, whether to work and earn on the cost of your soul i.e. by skipping religious involvement for the sake of money/pleasure/leisure. We need to learn when to say no to such things because "man does not live by bread alone, but every Word the mouth of God." (Mt. 4:4)

Question 2:-  And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”

Luke 4:6‭-‬7 NRSV

There is a wide road that leads to hell than a narrow road which leads to heaven. At times we make many things our gods. We fail to even realize that we rational beings and not a snob. If you love Jesus and if something is hampering your relationship with Him, then think, "am I righteously following our Lord or devoutly worshipping the creations of our Lord? For we need to "worship our God and serve only Him." (Lk. 4:8)

Question 3:- “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’  and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Luke 4:9‭-‬11 NRSV

At times I feel like we blackmail our God to certain extent that even He might think that, "this insignificantly small creation of mine is challenging me?!?!" Does it even make any difference to the Holiness of God if we stop praising Him? We pray 1000 times for certain miracles to happen in our lives. That may even include using scriptures to put God under His own trap. My point is, do not blackmail God to do anything, but pray in faith for His will be done that too in His own time and specially ask for the grace as you undergo with it. And finally, "do not put the Lord your God to test." (Lk. 4:12)

I recollect a memory from the past, I had a certain healing which I was looking out for; I approached many lay brothers and holy priests to receive the healing. Though the prayer was not answered, I asked for grace to endure with it and through and through I was constantly in touch with God. This brought in so many other blessings in disguise which I never asked for. So God has His own ways which we cannot even imagine.

Hoping and praying that we all have a really good, prayerful, reflective and meditative lent season. Do read atleast one scripture a day and live by it throughout that day.

God bless us all!

Praise God ❤️