Ash Wednesday

On Tuesday evening, I lined up my Lenten readings and placed my pen and paper nearby. I was ready to dive into my self-assigned Lenten disciplines on Ash Wednesday morning.  

I began my morning by making coffee and eating one piece of toast. Then, I picked the first, and I think the most important, piece of my Lenten reading, "The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius." I intended to work through the Exercises on my own, but upon reading the first few pages, I decided I should find a mentor. The work appeared to be huge. Good, but huge. I think more would be accomplished by working with someone who could provide some guidance.

I met with my mentor who encouraged me to just read the book and not struggle with the details. The idea is discernment, not being perfect with every detail. Some of us seem to be intent on the struggle.

Here comes the Curmudgeon...
When I arrived at Church for Mass on Ash Wednesday, there was no parking. None. The parish sits in the middle of a large campus, so it wasn't just a small block of full parking. The entire campus was jammed. I parked in an awkward space along with others who were rushing to Mass. I climbed the stairs and looked back down at the school parking lot, which sits below the back of the Church. I was struck by the fact that Ash Wednesday is not even a Holy Day of Obligation and people appeared to have come out of the woodwork.

So I wondered, where are these same people on Sundays which are Holy Days of Obligation? The number of Masses for Ash Wednesday were the same - 5 - as Sunday Masses and the times were the same as the Sunday Masses. This was in the middle of a work week when people should just want to go home after work. Again, it isn't a Holy Day. It is odd to me - a convert - that people would show up for the Ashes, but not on Sunday for the Eucharist. 

Maybe people came from other places and it was a matter of convenience that they chose this time and parish. I don't know the reasons, of course, and there may have been many good ones. I guess I should simply appreciate that so many people showed up, but still...