Ash Wednesday to Today: Mid-Lenten Reflections

Ella Bradshaw

Staff Writer

As I sit down to write this piece amidst the second week of March, I find myself surprised that Lent is almost halfway over, and the countdown to Holy Week and the Resurrection of the Lord is less than two months away. 

This period of the Lenten journey is a good time to reflect and reset for the rest of this liturgical season, a time for contemplation about our faith, our relationship with God, and our relationship with one another as we strive to become better Catholics and better humans imago dei.

Campus Ministry & Ash Wednesday Services

On Ash Wednesday, hundreds of students participated in services offered by Campus Ministry. The Chapel of the Holy Spirit offered a morning prayer, two separate Mass times throughout the day, a Liturgy of the Word night-time service, and Eucharistic Adoration with the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) at late hours. 

It was moving to witness the amount of students congregating for the 5 PM mass on Ash Wednesday. Eager students were quite literally flocking into the chapel to meet their Shepherd, to submit to His will, and to begin their journey of self-denial and active worship that will guide their hearts, minds, and souls for the upcoming months.

Students were given opportunities to receive ashes throughout the day at these services – a physical representation that humanity was created from the dust of the earth and the breath of God, and to dust they will return. At the time of receiving ashes, students heard the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” a strong framework for beginning the Lenten pilgrimage.

Church Teachings about Lent

Lent is a forty-day devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, symbolizing the forty days he spent fasting in the desert, facing temptation, and preparing for his public ministry. Catholics are called to deny themselves and grow closer to God during Lent through the pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which symbolize central tenets of Christ’s living Word and message.

In a Campus Ministry weekly newsletter sent out before the beginning of Lent, Luis Melgar, the Director of Campus Ministry, reflected, “As we prepare for this sacred season, we invite you to reflect on how you might grow intentionally in prayer, fasting, and generosity. It is a time that calls us to be attentive to our neighbors—friends and strangers alike—who long to be seen and accompanied. Know that you do not walk this journey alone; we enter this season together as a community committed to prayer, service, and solidarity.”

Lenten Midterm Reflections

Lent is always an exciting time of the liturgical year – following the New Year slump and bombarded with winter weather and snowstorms, it’s a consistent light in an otherwise dark season. The beginning of Lent is typically marked by hope, excitement, and high expectations for spiritual transformation.

Now we’re at the half-way point. I can’t speak for everyone, but on a personal level, I’ve noticed myself starting to drag my feet. Around this time is when we start to feel bored, lose inspiration and clarity of our goals, and experience deeper cravings than ever before to discard those things which we have pledged to pray for, fast, and give alms.

However, it is important not to lose hope. Now might just be one of the most important moments of this journey – embracing the Lenten mission when it is the most difficult. Not at the beginning of the season when great ideas about progress and transformation are in the front of our minds, and not at the end when the reward is near and we can celebrate the sacred mystery of the Resurrection. Now, when we feel the most empty, the most weak, and the most tempted, is the perfect time to dig in.

Particularly the fasting practice of Lenten penance forces us to deny those things which distract us from God and take His position when we are struggling. For some this might be screen time, for others it might be sweets or coffee. At this point in Lent, we’re probably all missing those favorite things in our everyday lives.

But the emptiness and craving that we feel are what makes space for inviting God into our daily lives. Through our sufferings, through our losses, and through our sacrifices, we can learn how to be fulfilled by the Lord and His eternal and self-giving love, truth, and goodness.

Now is the time. It is the most difficult test of faith, of resilience, and of determination. It is a chance to dig in and push for spiritual growth. It is the time to take up your cross and truly deny yourself. It might even be the perfect time to hit “refresh” and start over, if you don’t feel great about how Lent has been going so far.

Reset, Refresh, and Renew

Lent is a journey, not a destination. Because we are human, we too are imperfect. No one will have the perfect Lenten experience, no one will come out of this season as a saint, and no one will go through these forty days without struggling. That’s the point. By devoting ourselves to the pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we are reminded of the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ and how truly difficult it can be to live up to his image and divine nature.

Perfection may be corporally impossible, but that doesn’t mean you should quit. If you’re feeling like you need to hit “reset” yourself, maybe go to Confession to seek the advice of a priest, go to a weekly or daily mass to hear the Gospel, listen to a podcast or YouTube video for inspiration, pick up a spiritual book, participate in Campus Ministry extracurriculars to surround yourself with like-minded pilgrims of the faith, or simply sit in the chapel and adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament to spend time with Jesus in his Real Presence.

Keep your motivations and focus on God instead of yourself. Pick yourself up by the bootstraps as you carry your cross, and deny yourself over and over again. You’re halfway there. Now is the time.