"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.
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!