ASH
WEDNESDAY - A - 17 MATTHEW 6.1-6,16-21
Jesus
and the disciples have descended the Holy Mount of Transfiguration and are on
their way to Jerusalem and the cross.
For
us Lent begins today and these 40 days will be, as it were for us, a journey
with Jesus to Jerusalem.
In
the history of Christian worship, the observance of Lent grew from one day of
fasting between Good Friday and Easter to a period of 40 days. These 40 days
have always been a time of reflection and renewal for the church.
Adult
converts are instructed in the mysteries of the Christian faith waiting for the
Vigil of the Resurrection to be baptized, so that entering into and rising out
of the baptismal waters would be seen alongside the descent into the tomb and
the rising out of death of Jesus himself.
In
the baptismal office the newly baptized here the words that they are sealed by
the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever as the sign of the cross is
traced on their foreheads. But the words that accompany the ashen cross traced
on our foreheads this day are different: “Remember that thou art dust and to
dust thou shalt return.” The ashes remind us of our need of repentance and of
our mortality.
These
40 days is the church’s way of giving us yet another chance to get it right; to
live a holy life. Thus the church invites us to the observance of a holy Lent.
How do we do that? Can we do that on our own?
Jesus
is teaching his disciples about piety in today’s gospel passage. He singles out
three specific acts to make his point that our practice of piety is not to draw
attention to ourselves, but to help others and give God the glory. Our
almsgiving helps others as does our prayers of intercession. Fasting, however
is meant for our benefit.
Fasting
cleanses not only our bodies but our minds. It enables us to see clearly that
our dependence is on God. In addition to these three acts of personal piety,
the church invites us to practice a regimen of spiritual discipline that begins
with self-examination and repentance; followed by prayer, self-denial; and the
reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.
Prayer
is how we approach God and communicate with him. Fasting and self-denial
manifest our total dependence on God. Reading and meditating on God’s holy Word
is the way we come to know God and what God expects from us.
Perhaps
the most difficult one for most of us is the act of self-examination. This is,
in a way, holding ourselves up to the light of the Gospel; to become
transparent, as it were, before God so that we recognize and acknowledge the
flaws and short comings that exist in our relationship to God; flaws and short
comings that spill over into our relationships with our neighbors that keep us
from living a holy life.
To
acknowledge them before God, is the first step in turning our life back to God.
Because he loves us he forgives us, and in turn gives us the grace to over come
them. Repentance clears the way for God “to create and make in us a new and
contrite heart,” that enables us to recapture the vision of Easter, and to
recommit ourselves to living the new life to which we have been called in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
This
is our “bread for the journey.” To engage in the above as we make this journey
with Jesus, keeps us on the right path; one focused on Him. We know where the
journey ends and how it ends. In this, we have the advantage over the disciples
who walked with Jesus from Galilee to the Holy City.
We
are on this side of the cross. We are Easter people. Our 40 day preparation is
not for Good Friday, but for the celebration of Easter; a new beginning. In
order for us to be truly surprised and rejoice at His resurrection, as we
should be, we need to make this journey using all of the spiritual “tools” the
church invites us to use - with God’s help.
All
are useful in and out of “season.” For they enable us to live a holy life
beyond these 40 days and at the same time prepare us for the true joy of Easter
in which we remember “that it is only by God’s gracious gift that we are given
everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior.” AMEN+
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