Fr. Ndichu Calls for Self-Reflection and Repentance During Lent
TSA | March 6, 2025 | Nairobi
Hundreds of Catholic faithful in Nairobi gathered in churches on Wednesday to observe Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season that culminates in Easter Sunday. The day, deeply rooted in Christian tradition, serves as a call to repentance, humility, and renewed faith in God.
At the Holy Family Minor Basilica, Rev. Fr. Michael Ndichu led the Ash Wednesday Mass, urging believers to use this sacred period as an opportunity for deep self-examination and spiritual transformation.
“We have strayed from the right path, but we must not remain lost. Listen to the voice calling us to repentance and return to the Lord. No sin is greater than God’s mercy,” Fr. Ndichu emphasized.
A Call to Spiritual Renewal
Fr. Ndichu expressed concern over the growing secularism in today’s society, noting that many people behave as if God does not exist, replacing faith with materialism, corruption, and self-indulgence. He warned against using positions of power for personal gain while ignoring the suffering of others.
He called on the faithful to embrace the three core pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices, he explained, are meant to bring people closer to God while fostering compassion for the less fortunate.
“Fasting is not just about abstaining from food,” he said. “It is also about giving up sinful behaviors such as gossip, dishonesty, and corruption. True fasting involves a transformation of the heart.”
Addressing Social and Moral Decay
The priest also highlighted the moral and ethical challenges facing the country, attributing much of the hardship to human greed and selfishness. He challenged Kenyans to reflect on their role in society’s struggles and take responsibility for bringing about positive change.
“The difficulties we face as a country stem from our own actions,” he noted. “Ask yourself: What is your contribution to the problems we see today? Have you been honest in your dealings? Have you cared for the needy, or have you looked away?”
He urged people to actively cultivate virtues such as humility, patience, and generosity while rejecting vices like pride, anger, gluttony, and lust. By doing so, he said, individuals can restore not only their personal lives but also the moral fabric of society.
The Symbolism of Ash Wednesday
During the Mass, priests administered ashes on the foreheads of worshippers, making the sign of the cross—a powerful symbol of penance and human mortality. This act reminds believers of their temporary existence on Earth and the need to seek reconciliation with God.
Rev. Fr. Boniface Kimani, who also spoke during the service, encouraged the faithful to embark on their Lenten journey with humility, acknowledging their sins and striving for spiritual renewal.
“The ashes remind us that we came from dust and will return to dust,” he said. “They symbolize our need for forgiveness, a reminder that life is fleeting, and that we must prepare for eternity by leading righteous lives.”
The ashes used in the ceremony are made from the blessed palm branches of the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration, further reinforcing the connection between repentance and divine mercy.
Understanding the Season of Lent
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving observed by Catholics and many other Christian denominations. It commemorates the 40 days and nights Jesus Christ spent fasting and battling temptation in the wilderness, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The season calls on believers to turn away from sin, deepen their spiritual discipline, and renew their commitment to faith and righteousness. It also serves as a reminder that, just as Jesus overcame trials through prayer and fasting, His followers are called to resist temptation and seek holiness.
Historically, the practice of using ashes as a sign of repentance originates from ancient Jewish traditions, where people would cover themselves in ashes and wear sackcloth to express mourning and remorse. This practice was later adopted by the early Church as a symbol of penance and renewal.
A Time for Charity and Compassion
Fr. Ndichu reminded the faithful that almsgiving—helping the poor and vulnerable—is an integral part of Lent. He urged those who give to do so selflessly, rather than seeking public recognition.
“When you help the needy, do it in silence. True charity is done for the glory of God, not for personal applause,” he stressed.
He encouraged people to extend their generosity beyond financial aid, emphasizing that acts of kindness, listening to others, and offering support to those in need are equally valuable.
As the Lenten journey begins, Fr. Ndichu called on all Christians to use this sacred time for self-reflection, renewal, and a deeper connection with God.
“Let us turn back to God with sincere hearts, seek His mercy, and strive to become better people—both in our personal lives and in our communities,” he concluded.
Fr. Ndichu Calls for Self-Reflection and Repentance During Lent