Ash Wednesday
Have you ever read a book or seen a movie that was life changing? When we encounter such an instrument of transformation we tend to want to tell others. How do we promote that which gave us joy or caused profound healing in us? We do not simply talk about it, we express our thoughts or feelings passionately. Our excitement is what draws others to the book or movie. This is what an ambassador does; they represent an organization or country and work as a messenger of good will.
As ambassadors for Christ, we too are called to be good will messengers. Yet are we messengers of Christ? When someone looks at us do they think, “Wow, that is someone who has a heart for Christ? Do others see me as a Christian?” A person’s interior disposition can reflect a deep sense of being rooted in their faith. Today’s scriptures remind us that it is the character of our hearts and not our garments that show that we are messengers for Christ.
Being a consistent bearer of the good news is not easy, especially in a time of trial. For Joel who was a prophet during such a time, his message was to look beyond their current suffering, the plague of locusts that were consuming Judah. Joel’s focus was to look towards the future day of the Lord. To that end he challenged the people of Israel to reorient themselves toward God. And to do it he admonished them to proclaim a fast and to return to the Lord with their whole hearts. Joel’s words are echoed in sentiment of one of the formula’s for today’s distribution of ashes, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Turning away from sin and being faithful to the Gospel is not as easy as it sounds. Thus we are given spiritual disciplines to help us regain our focus on God. As Catholics we take extra time to be attentive to these disciplines so that we can be made new. Thus we take time to prayer to reset or reboot our relationship with God. We fast so that we are reminded of feeling hungry, and in the emptiness we allow God to invade our hearts. Also, we give alms for those less fortunate, so that we recognize how clearly we have been blessed. All of these disciplines help us return to the Lord completely with a clean heart.
Merciful Lord, your compassion has wiped out my offenses. Through these Lenten sacrifices, please give back to me the joy of Your salvation. Continue to sustain in me a spirit willing to always be an ambassador for You oh Lord. In this way people will not see me, but only You Lord, who lives and reigns, one God forever and ever. Amen!
-Michael Montgomery