Ash Wednesday (C); March 2, 2022

Jl 2:12-18.  Ps 51.  2 Cor 5:20-6:2.  Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Deacon Jim McFadden

            Sisters and brothers of the St. Francis Catholic community, we come once again, to that great season of Lent, which is a great opportunity to prune away falseness, superficiality, and indifference to God, each other, and Creation. 

            At the beginning of our Lenten journey, the Word of God offers us not one, but two invitations—and they are addressed to each one of us.  If they showed up on TroubieMail, they would read PLEASE READ!

            The first one comes by way of our brother St. Paul, who says in our second reading, , “be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20).  This is not just some friendly advice or a helpful suggestion; rather, it is a bona fide petition on Christ’s behalf: “We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (ibid.). Why the urgency?  Our Lord Jesus knows the ways of humankind.  He knows that despite our intrinsic goodness—we are made in the image of God!—we are very fragile, especially the last two years as we’ve been psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually hammered by the covid pandemic.  He also knows that influenced by our fallen nature that we have been wounded by the wrong  that we have done in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Jesus knows how much we need forgiveness; he knows that we need to feel loved in order to do what’s right in our troubled world.  Moreover, we can’t do this alone because we are radically dependent upon God’s grace to do good.  That’s why Paul just doesn’t say “go out there and do something!  Rather, he says allow yourself to be reconciled with God, to let him forgive us, because God is greater than any sin we’ve committed.  Jesus is extending his invitation for reconciliation, but it’s up to us to acknowledge that we need mercy.  This is the first step on the Christian journey, which means choosing to enter the open door which is Christ Jesus, where he, the Lord and Savior of the world, offers us new and joyful life that can’t be earned but only gratefully accepted.

            SLAM!  Regretabily, we often close the door of our heart to Jesus.  There is a temptation to lock the door, to keep Jesus out.  Why?  We’ve gotten comfortable with our sin, minimizing it, always justifying it, thinking that I’m not all that bad and, besides, our post-modern secular society trumpets a self-referential lifestyle.  Shutting the door, however, does great damage because it locks the soul into a self-imposed prison; we remain shut inside, prisoners of sin. 

            Another obstacle is the shame of opening the secret door of our heart. Shame is not a bad thing.  We hear a lot about so-called “Catholic guilt,” but we should feel shame when we do wrong and it’s a good symptom because it shows that we’re trying to break away from evil.  At the same time, we shouldn’t be stuck in our shame, fearing that my sin is too great to be forgiven. 

            The third obstacle is to distance ourselves from the door.  It happens when we like the Ego-drama in which I am the center of my world, life is about me, and I am in control.  If we continue to live a self-absorbed lifestyle which is advocated by a consumer-driven society, we just sink deeper into the darkest cave of our soul.  When this happens, we will stay stuck and close ourselves off and avoid the light of Christ.  That is why Paul makes his urgent plea on Jesus’ behalf: be reconciled.  Moreover, let us listen to Jesus who says to those who are weary, sad, anxious, and depressed: “Come to me” (Mt. 11:28).  Sisters and brothers, let us not stay stuck in our skin-encapsulated egos, but go to him!  Comfort, peace, and joy are right there waiting for us.

            The second invitation of God comes to us from the prophet Joel: “return to me with all your whole heart (Jl 2:12).  We need to return to God because we have so distanced ourselves.  And, because we are essentially relational beings, if we’re distanced from God, we’ll also be disconnected from others, ourselves, and Creation.  We struggle to trust God, to totally surrender ourselves completely to him.   That’s why we’re attracted to the goods of the world (the 4 Ps) because they are tangible and offer us temporary satisfaction, but, in the end, they leave us frustrated, disappointed, and impoverished.  Is there  a way out?  Matthew’s gospel offers us three remedies to heal our broken spirit.

            The first is prayer, which draws us into the presence of God and nurtures an openness and trust in the Lord. Genuine prayer is a personal encounter with Jesus, who draws us into the mystery of the Triune God and gradually shortens the distance between us and God caused by sin. Along this line, avail yourself with the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  We’re fortunate to have Fr. George on campus and you will find the loving and merciful gaze of Jesus through him.

            The next is almsgiving or charity.  We are most human when we live as God operates: namely, self-giving love.   Through your Christian service and elsewhere, look for those who are in need of your time and talent, your mere presence.  Give yourself as a friend as you live to serve not to accumulate or consume overcoming the desire to satisfy only yourself. 

            Finally, fasting, penance in order to free ourselves from being dependent on those goods which are transitory, ephemeral , and finite.  As you say “no” to yourself, you’re more empowered to say “yes” to God and your brothers and sisters.

            “Return to me”—Jesus is telling each one of us right here, right now.  Return to him with your whole heart, not only in your actions, but from the very depths of your True Self.  May Lent be a time to “prune” falseness, superficiality, and indifference from our lives.  During our Lenten journey, let us always remember who we are: a beloved child of God.  Let us find again our Christian identity: namely, to embrace the love that serves, not selfishness that serves us.

And, as we receive the Ashes, we too will become ashes, keeping our gaze on Jesus who loves us so much he suffered crucifixion.  Jesus, loving us, invites us to be reconciled with God and to return to him in order to find ourselves again.  Amen.