The ashes of Ash Wednesday are to remind us that we came from dust, and shall return to dust after we die. It is also a reminder that we are given the gift of time between those two stages of dust. It is up to us to fill that time.
How are you spending your time between dust-to-dust?
If Jesus was sitting right next to you, just like any other person, what would you say to Him? What would you ask Him? How would you act around Him?
Would you say or ask anything different than in prayer? Would you act any different than you do now?
Think about it. Do you need to change anything?
The Pioneer 10 space probe has sent its last signal. Originally launched on March 2, 1972, Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to pass through the asteroid belt and swing by Jupiter. It’s original mission was to last 21 months, but lasted for nearly 30 years. In 1983, it was the first man-made object to pass the orbit of Pluto and leave the solar system.
The last signal was received on January 22, 2003 at an estimated distance “of 7.6 billion miles from Earth, or 82 times the nominal distance between the Sun and the Earth. At that distance, it takes more than 11 hours and 20 minutes for the radio signal, traveling at the speed of light, to reach the Earth.”
“Pioneer 10 explored Jupiter, traveled twice as far as the most distant planet in our solar system, and as Earth’s first emissary into space, is carrying a gold plaque that describes what we look like, where we are, and the date when the mission began. Pioneer 10 will continue to coast silently as a ghost ship into interstellar space, heading generally for the red star Aldebaran, which forms the eye of the constellation Taurus.”
Happy sailing Pioneer 10!
My men’s prayer group consist of three people, a religion teacher, a Spanish/art teacher, and me, a math teacher. Brian, the religion teacher, told us that Lent (which starts next week) consist of three points for conversion and becoming closer to God. The three big ideas are some kind of sacrifice, more prayer/scripture reading, and alms giving/doing good works for others.
As a group, we challenged ourselves to work on these three ideas. We came up with a plan. I had originally intended of listing what we were going to do, but conversion is supposed to be a private matter. Announcing our intentions would be like receiving a reward now here on earth. I want my reward (and the others in the group) to be private, and hopefully received in heaven.
I will tell you that this Lenten season will be very special. David, the Spanish/art teacher, just re-entered the church after 40 years of wondering. He is so happy. Brian is trying to get out of a rut that he feels he has been in for the last year or so. And I, I will be baptized at the end of this Lent, on the Easter vigil.
The wizard said to the tin man, “Remember my friend, Love is not measured by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.”