Today, on Ash Wednesday, we begin Lent not with guilt, not with dread, but with an invitation.
Listen to the tenderness in the first reading the prophet Joel: “Return to me with your whole heart.”
Not, “Return to me once you’ve fixed yourself.”
Not, “Return to me once you’ve proven you’re worthy.”
Just: RETURN
Lent is not about impressing God. It is about turning back.
Saint Paul tells us: “Now is a very acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.” That’s the good news. Not tomorrow. Not after we get our act together. Not after we’ve conquered our worst habits. Now.
In Latin the word is Hodie. TODAY…. NOW…. THIS MOMENT! God is ready NOW - Today.
In the Gospel, Jesus talks about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. But notice something important. He doesn’t say if you pray. He says when. He assumes we want relationship with the God. And Jesus tells us: do it in secret.
Why? Because Lent is not a performance. It continues the love story that is Christianity, the love story of being a Christian. This last weekend we had a group at the retreat house ofRetrouvaille. It is a program to help troubled married couples. Lent is kind of our Retrouvaille with God.
Non of us are perfect, none of us doing everything right, but we have chances every year, EVERY DAY to work on our relationship with God and with those around us. If you think you are perfect, see me after Mass and we will have a talk! 😊
In a few moments we will hear the words:
“Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
It is an invitation to trust the good news, if you remember GOSPEL means GOOD NEWS!!
Repentance doesn’t mean beating ourselves up. In Scripture it means turning around, changing direction. We turn not because we are rejected, but because we are wanted.
Joel says, “Rend your hearts, not your garments.” In other words, don’t just make outward gestures, let God reach your heart. Let God soften what has hardened. Let God heal what has grown tired. Let God rekindle what has cooled.
The beautiful thing is, that God is eager to do this. Joel says God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness.” That is the God we are returning to.
Lent, then, is not forty days of spiritual misery. It is forty days of clearing space, cleaning house. Space so God can love us more deeply. Space so we can learn to love God, but especially OTHERS more deeply. Space so joy can return.
It’s not about giving up chocolate. It’s not about eating less. It’s not about making promises we will not keep. It is about repenting, turning, making things new, making them right. Things like what Pope Leo invited us to do: Fast from harsh words. Turning our language into love and friendship. Fast from judging others. Turning our thoughts to love and service.
God who sees in secret sees all of it. And God delights in it.
Today, receive the ashes with hope. Walk into Lent with the intent to TURN BACK TO THE GOSPEL. BELIEVING MEANS NOT JUST THINKING BUT DOING AS WELL! IT TAKES THAT TURNING!
We can have confidence that God will give us grace to repair where there has been less than Good News, and Love.
God already is near, waiting for us.
“Repent and believe in the Gospel” GOOD NEWS!
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB