Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent

REMBRANDT. The Return of the Prodigal Son.
1669. Oil on canvas. The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Today is a Ash Wednesday, which marks the day of corporate repentance for sins and the beginning of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer. Typically we would all have a black ash on our foreheads, the outward sign of our inward contrition, as in the ancient times. Consider, for instance, Rembrandt's depiction of the broken and contrite heart of the Prodigal Son, who returned in dust to his father.
Some of us who might not be familiar with the reasons for Lent, would do well to remember that the Church calendar follows the life of Christ. Christ engaged in the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting, and we see this especially at the start of his ministry. Christ fasted for 40 days in the wilderness and resisted the temptations of the devil. He became for us the true Israel, who did not fail in the wilderness but came "out of Egypt," through baptism at the Jordan, to became the better Moses and the true Joshua who can lead us into the Promise Land of salvation. We fast because Christ himself fasted. Lent lasts for 40 days because Christ was in the wilderness for 40 days. This season of Lent prepares us for the season of Easter, and the 40 days leads to Holy Week where we enter into Christ's Passion. For more on Lent, go here.

Agenda for Monday, March 3:

1. Pray
2. Latin Proverb: scriptum est non in pane solo vivet homo sed in omni verbo quod procedit de ore Dei. Here it is in English: "It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." - Matthew 4:3
3. Continue reading and studying Canterbury Tales  
4. Review HW:
1. Finish reading the Prologue of Canterbury Tales (3/5)
2. Be perfect.

Agenda for Tuesday, March 4:

1. Pray
2. Grammar Notes: Pronoun and Noun Case 
1. Take notes
3. Continue reading and studying Canterbury Tales  
4. Review HW:
1. Finish reading the Prologue of Canterbury Tales (3/5)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Wednesday, March 5:

1. Pray
2. Continue reading and studying Canterbury Tales
1. Review the Pologue together and take notes. 
2. Reading Journal: the Prologue 
3. Review HW:
1. Finish reading the Prologue of Canterbury Tales (3/5)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Thursday, March 6:

1. Pray
2. Continue reading and studying Canterbury Tales
1. Reading Journal: the Prologue 
3. Review HW:
1. Finish reading the Prologue of Canterbury Tales (3/5)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
3. Be perfect.

Agenda for Friday, March 7:

1. Pray
2. Continue reading and studying Canterbury Tales
1. Reading Journal: the Prologue 
3. Review HW:
1. Finish reading the Prologue of Canterbury Tales (3/5)
2. Study Grammar on Cases of Pronouns and Nouns. Quiz next week. 
3. Be perfect.