Homily for ASH WEDNESDAY
By receiving ashes on our foreheads, we say to ourselves and to the world: “One day, this mortal body of mine will be nothing but dust. But until that day, I want to live the purpose for which God has created me.” In other words, we want to live in such a way that we will be more than just ashes one day.
We are renewing the sense within us that we are spiritual beings and that which is spiritual needs to be nourished. We are remembering that we are destined to spend all eternity with God and that purpose takes some preparation in us. So, we take these 40 days to repent, to reflect, to deepen our commitment to the Gospel, and to give ourselves entirely to God. We remember what we are made of — and what we were made to become. These ashes we are about to receive proclaim to the world that we have work to do—to fulfil our purpose in the eyes of God.
The putting on of ashes is an ancient symbol of repentance for sin and calling on God to have mercy. We who receive the ashes today seek to convert our hearts again to the Lord, who suffered, died and rose for our salvation. We are preparing to renew the promises made at our baptism, when we died to an old life and rose to a new life with Christ.
Lent is a time of particular intimacy with God, in the secret of our hearts and consciences. And it is in this intimacy with God that the essential work of Lent is accomplished - the work of conversion. Conversion means that as we renew our sense of God’s love for us, his longing for us, we are moved to turn toward him and give ourselves completely to him.
Let’s pray for the grace of a remarkable Lent this year: perhaps for freedom from a destructive habit; or to gain a new understanding, or for a fresh experience of God’s love and mercy; for guidance and direction; for resolution of a conflict; or for help in a particular need. And then, having asked for this grace: live in expectation, cultivate a longing, a looking- forward-to, during this season of Lent.
In the first reading from the prophet Joel there is a beautiful image of God pleading with us to come back to him, to turn our hearts to him. And we hear that the motivation for this turning to God with all our hearts comes from the very nature of God himself. Our God is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness and ready to relent.
In the second reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians, St Paul appeals to us, in the name of Christ, in this acceptable time, to be reconciled with God. He speaks of the beautiful grace we have received – the gift of a Saviour, and he begs us not to neglect this grace.
Today and this whole season of Lent is a favourable time for us. It is a time of salvation. It is a time for us to slow down and listen to God calling us back to him with all our hearts. It is a time for us to experience afresh that our God is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness and ready to relent. It is a time for us to be reconciled to God anew. Lent is a time for re-focusing and for reordering our hearts. We need to confront those things in our lives that lead us away from God and try to put them aside in order to draw nearer to God. We are invited to conversion.
The Gospel suggests three ways that we can go about this in a Lenten programme. Firstly, almsgiving. What we are given by God is not meant for ourselves only, but for us to share with others in the service of others. So, this Lent, let’s give something of ourselves or of our resources to someone in need, without seeking anything return, knowing that this is freeing for us, good for the other, and pleasing to our Father who sees what we do in secret.
The second great theme of our Lenten programme, as presented to us in this Gospel for Ash Wednesday, is prayer. We have a need inside of us that cannot be filled by ourselves or others or anything create thing. We have a longing, a holy longing, and must look to God. Let’s make some special effort at prayer in these days. Let’s make time to experience the tenderness and compassion of God and the incredible love he has for us.
You see, Lent is a time of prayer, of more intense prayer, more disciplined and regular prayer. Prayer is the expression of words like those in the psalm today, where David begs forgiveness. He says, “Have mercy on me O Lord in your kindness; in your compassion blot out my offence. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.” These are words that purify, words that transform. Our prayer using words like these will transform us from the inside. Let’s recite them often during Lent.
The third great theme of our Lenten programme, given in today’s Gospel, is fasting. Fasting is denying ourselves of a basic necessity to remind ourselves of our utter dependence on God. Let’s give up something and make some special effort to do something extra. Let’s do something that will cause you us flourish in the best sense of the word, remembering that the glory of God is a human fully alive. Let’s do things that make for being fully alive to God.
Spiritual writers over the centuries of the Church’s history have demonstrated that the discipline of fasting heightens our spiritual awareness and makes us more receptive to God. And, if possible, let’s put our fasting to the benefit of others.
Pray during this Lent that all of us may be more than mere dust one day. We heard the words of the psalmist just a few moments ago: “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.” Pray that we may be clean, steadfast, renewed. It begins here and now.