The archbishop of Manila on Ash Wednesday reminded Catholics that nothing in the world lasts forever and urged the public to detach from “worldly attachments”.
In his homily, Cardinal Jose Advincula said that the ashes are a visual reminder of human vulnerability, mortality, and the inevitability of death.
“All of us will die. All of us will one day have the ground above us. All of us will one day turn to dust. Therefore, there should be no room for pride in our hearts,” he said.
The prelate cautioned against “the delusions of self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, self-entitlement, and self-grandiosity” that “consume our hearts and cloud our minds.”
He also pointed to the ashes as a symbol of the transient nature of worldly possessions and experiences. He warned against the false belief in the permanence of material wealth, power, position, and emotions, stressing that everything in the world eventually turns to ashes.
“Things [in] the world are not forever, no matter how much we try. But sometimes, we deceive ourselves. We hide our wealth instead of cultivating and sharing it. We hoard power instead of using it for genuine service. We abuse nature instead of caring for it,” he said.
Cardinal Advincula emphasized the cross-shaped ashes as a symbol of God’s eternal and unconditional love. He underscored the importance of God’s love as the foundation of Lenten observance, calling for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
“This Lent, let us return to the one true forever. Let us go home into the warm embrace of our loving God,” he said.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, a sacred period in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church commemorating Jesus Christ’s 40 days of fasting in the desert.
