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Nevertheless, the liturgy of Ash Wednesday is not focussed on the sinfulness of the penitent but on the mercy of God. The question of sinfulness is raised precisely because this is a day of mercy, and the just do not need a savior.
- Thomas Merton
(Lent begins today -- a time when many embrace disciplines that will help them grow closer to God. Traditionally, the focus has been on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. What disciplines are you needing to give priority to at this time?) |
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Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-6, 12-14 and 17;
2 Cor 5:20—6:2
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see
them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the
streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they
have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to
you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is
hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay
you." USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always.”
—Psalm 51:5 Jesus once remarked that if the miracles that He had worked in Bethsaida and Chorazin, two towns in Galilee, had occurred in pagan Tyre and Sidon, the people of those towns would have “reformed in sackcloth and ashes” (Mt 11:21). Repenting by the use of ashes was a custom of the chosen
people.
Job repented in ashes (Jb 2:8; 42:6), as did Daniel (Dn 9:3), Tamar (2 Sm 13:19), Judith (Jdt 9:1) and Esther (Est C:13). The prophets spoke of repenting with ashes (Is 58:5; Jer 6:26; Ez 27:30), and faithful Jews did likewise (Jdt 4:11, 15; 1 Mc 3:47; 4:39; Est 4:1, 3). Likewise, the sinful citizens of Nineveh repented in ashes (Jon 3:6).
We begin the season of Lent today with the liturgy of Ash Wednesday. Ashes are placed on our heads as an outward sign of repentance. We die to ourselves and deny our very selves (Lk 9:23) in imitation of Jesus, Who set aside His glory for our good. We must decrease so Jesus can increase in our lives (Jn 3:30). This discipline and
self-denial is for the purpose of repentance, so that everything within us might be for the Lord. May all that is against the Lord be washed away, fall to the ground, and die (Jn 12:24) so we can bear great fruit. Will you die to yourself this Lent so Jesus can live through you? (Gal 2:19-20) “Be earnest about it, therefore. Repent!” (Rv 3:19) Prayer: Father, may our Lenten fasting be pleasing
to You and a healing remedy for our souls. Promise: “Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!” —2 Cor 6:2 Presentation Ministries
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What is Christian Love? by Philip St. Romain (all rights reserved) Adapted from Freedom from Codependency: A Christian Response - Summary - One way of pulling all this together is to realize that God
has put us here to grow. Love is pro-growth. We need love to grow as plants need water and sunshine. We also need pruning; that is, we need to learn from the consequences of our behavior. Because God wants us to grow to become fully mature in Christ, God allows us to suffer. Enabling behavior is different in that it prevents people from growing and taking responsibility for their behavior by removing their suffering. What about the death of Christ? We say that he died for our sins. Does this mean that he took responsibility for our behavior? As these questions show, there is a co-dependent way of looking at the death of Christ. The difference is this: enablers do for others what they can and should do for themselves. It is not enabling to do for others what they cannot do for themselves. The Redemption
does for us what we could not do for ourselves--namely, enter the life of the Trinity. By taking on our nature and living our life, God, in Christ, has opened the way for the human race to experience the inner life of God. As any practicing Christian knows, faith does not leave one free from sin; the struggle with sin continues, and Christ does not take this away. Rather, he gives us his Spirit to overcome sin. Without his Spirit, we cannot live his life. Therefore,
his incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension, and gift of the Spirit are gifts, not enablements. Paperback book, PDF eBook, Kindle, ePub
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