EL PASO, Texas — Lent, which began on Wednesday, is quickly becoming a superficial religious practice, according to Bishop Mark J. Seitz, who would rather see people use this time to reflect on their relationship with God.

On Wednesday, thousands of Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians and Methodists flocked to their churches to partake in Ash Wednesday, signaling the start of the 40-day Lent season.

Seitz hopes that people do not take the tradition for granted but look within themselves and reflect.

“When we enter a period of penance, it’s a time for us to step and take a fresh look at our life,” he said. “One of my biggest concerns about Ash Wednesday and Lent in general is that it becomes almost a habitual kind of superficial religious practice.”

Seitz said Catholics should think about the ashes and what they represent in their lives.

“What is it about my life that is really keeping me from developing a really good relationship with God and with other people,” he said. “The ashes are taken from something that has died and has been burned. They remind us of the fact that we’re in on a short leash here on Earth. So that time we’re here, we need to use it in a way that we can look back and say we used it well.”

The ashes are made from the palms used at the previous Passion Sunday ceremonies.

Seitz will be leading the Ash Wednesday services for college students at the University of Texas at El Paso.

“I always enjoy being with young people,” he said. “They bring an energy and idealism to their practice of faith. Young people today who are serious enough about their faith to come to a service such as this one are really special. They are rejecting so many powerful trends that lead to not thinking about God. They are an inspiration to me.”

Lent is often a time when Christians observe the 40 days by praying, fasting and giving to the needy. Many also associate Lent with making a sacrifice, perhaps giving up something they enjoy.

The Rev. Pablo Matta of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in the Lower Valley, said he tries to find a way to make Ash Wednesday relevant to people each year.

“This year we are focusing on growth. We are called to constantly grow, in our love for each other. We make mistakes along the way but we never stop growing.”

Matta also said the ashes can be a reminder of what people need to let die or change so that they grow into better people.

In his Lenten message, Pope Francis said one of the challenges for society is the globalization of indifference.

He said, “every Christian community is called to go out of itself and to be engaged in the life of the greater society of which it is a part, especially with the poor and those who are far away. The

Church is missionary by her very nature; she is not self-enclosed but sent out to every nation and people.”

Many churches will have Ash Wednesday services and distribution of ashes.