What is Kuwaresma? What is Lent? Unsa ang kalabutan sa Ashes?

Excerpts from the Homily of Archbishop Romulo Valles during the Ash Wednesday Livestreaming Mass last February 17, 2021 at the Archbishop’s Residence Chapel, F. Torres St., Davao City.

The character of Lent is preparatory. Basic character – pagpangandam. And therefore when we say pagpangandam, to prepare… for what? Kuwarenta – 40 days – Ash Wednesday up to Holy Thursday, period of preparation. For what? Again, to enter into prayer and liturgy, the sacred recalling in prayer and liturgy of the Church – of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, mao na ang gipangandaman. So that, we may be worthy and ready to enter into there. Sa ato pa, sa 2nd half sa Semana Santa – Holy Week, mao na ang gipangandaman sa Lent. And Lent begins with this beautiful Rite, we know very well – Ash Wednesday.

Another way of understanding that preparatory character of Lent… How? We prepare by very underlying theme of Kuwaresma – we prepare by looking again into our being baptized… Dynamic of Lent is re-examination of our baptismal character. Our being baptized, the dignity, the gift of being made again, washed clean in baptism and now becoming Son and Daughter of God. But we are not careful about that, that’s why having said that, all through Lent is a re-examination, re-visiting, helped by the liturgy, our devotional practices. But keep that in mind to re-examine again our being baptized.. At the end, hopefully, ma re-appreciate nato, ma re-capture nato again, ang atong baptismal character, then, nindut ang atong pakighiusa kay Kristo in his Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Nganong nindut ang sugod karon? Unsa ang kalabutan sa Ashes?

Duha ka formula: “Repent and believe in the Gospel”; pero ako, kay tigulang naman ko, ganahan ko sa “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return”. Niingon ko – Bunyag; ang picture mga igsoon sa ashes, if you allow me, is a good way of remembering creation, pagbuhat nato nga kita abog, kita abo…nga kanang abo , gihuypan sa Ginoo ug nahimong life, kita. Before baptism, abog ra gyud ta, apan gihuypan kita sa Ginoo sa iyang Espiritu, sa tubig sa kinabuhi ug dili na kita abo apan binuhat na sa Diyos tungod sa Bunyag. Mao ni ang nindut nga simbolismo sa pagbutang og abo kanato… Makadungog mo sa formula: “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return”. Muingon ka: “Tinuod gyud na Ginoo” “Salamat kay nabunyagan ako” “Salamat kay giluwas mo” “Salamat sa reminder.” Tungod kay kung dili, dili gyud ko maghuna-huna nga abog ko. “Hambugero kaayo ko”. “bulawan kaayo ko” gold kaayo ko. But remember man, you are just nothing without the grace from the Lord.