I have not always paid a lot of attention to the Christian calendar, but I notice that Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day this year. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which culminates with Easter Sunday.
This double meaning of the date brings greater meaning to both occasions.
When we think about celebrating our loved ones, we can remember that we must truly love in a sacrificial way. Lent is the season of self-denial. We can express our love sacrificially, putting others ahead of ourselves.
When we think about the beginning of the Lenten season, we can focus on the depths of Jesus's love for us. His love was so great that it endured the cross. He absorbed all the evil in the world, and he overcame it through his resurrection. All this he did for us.
Lent is a season of understanding and experiencing sacrifice. Valentine's seems like a good way to begin.
