Daily reflection _ now is the acceptable time

"NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME"
Going off in too many directions at once often results in nothing happening. Perhaps we should find one theme, one action, around which we should organize our thoughts and intentions.  
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
When Joel prophesies in today's first reading, the people are suffering from a great plague of locusts, which are destroying their crops. Joel sees the plague not only as a punishment for sin, but also as a warning that God will someday come in judgment. He, therefore, called the people to repentance; all the people without exceptions - the old, the young, the newly married and even the priests and ministers of the Church. Century's later St. Paul, writing to his converts at Corinth, proclaims the same message of need for repentance. There is a sense of urgency in his words, "Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2).
On this Ash Wednesday, the Church once again calls us to repentance by means of the ceremony of ashes. This call is meant for all of us without exception, for the ashes remind us first, of our human weakness. It doesn't matter who we are or how good we think we are, because of our weakness, we have been guilty of sin and need repentance. The ashes also remind us of the coming judgment of God. Finally, there is a sense of urgency about this call to repentance because we have no idea of when death will claim us.
Today's Liturgy points to a number of Lenten themes. For example: repentance, a new beginning, reconciliation, preparation, almsgiving, and of course prayer and fasting. These will recur throughout the Lenten readings. Going off in too many directions at once often results in nothing happening. Perhaps we should find one theme, one action, around which we should organize our thoughts and intentions.
Ashes are an obvious focus for our thoughts and hearts, today. And they suggest, as such things should, various responses. We are formed from dust, we come from the earth, and our bodies will return to it. In other words, our life is brief, fragile, almost nothing in terms of volume and time. "Now," then, as the second reading urges, "is the acceptable time." Let's give our life in Christ serious attention, time, and effort. God will re-create us in the Resurrection. So, what we make of this life, with God's help, is all-important and worth the effort. Ashes tell us to be serious, in the best sense of the word, not just simply going on our way without thinking, becoming swept up in merely the present moment.
Repentance means turning away from sin and turning towards God; a real change of heart is necessary for all of us. In the Scriptures, you and I will hear what God's will is for each of us, that is, just what we are to do to practice repentance. In the Mass, we turn to God so that we may receive the graces we need to follow out what we have learned in the Scriptures. For this Lent, one particular theme should emerge as the result of your reflections and prayer that will motivate you and inspire you.
Think about it the next few days!