This week we explore Mary, Jesus' mother and the impact of her faith. The minute Mary agreed to be Jesus' mother she became a Person of the Passion, one of the main characters in the story of Jesus' last day. After the Christmas story we don't hear much about Mary until we find her "near the cross" when her son Jesus was crucified. It was at this moment of deep grief we witness Mary's deep faith.

Ash Wednesday is a call back to God to repent of the things that separate us from God, return to God by accepting God's forgiveness, and remember God's love and goodness.

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is near, but sometime life looks and feels more like hell than heaven. Today we let Jesus teach us to see the heaven that is already near us.

The hope of Heaven someday, with Gods help, can give the courage and hope we need to persevere in difficult times.

Even without a scientific method to prove it, by faith, we can believe heaven is real based on what Jesus says about it.