NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME
The prophet saw the plague not only as a punishment for sin, but also as a warning that, one day, God would come in judgment. Therefore, without exceptions, He called all the people to repentance - the old, the young, the newlyweds, and even the priests and ministers of the Church. Century's later St. Paul wrote to the converts in Corinth and proclaimed the same message of need for repentance. In his message there was a sense of urgency, "Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2).
By the ceremony of ashes on this Ash Wednesday, the Church once again calls us to repentance. This call is meant for all of us, for the ashes remind us of our human frailty. No matter whom we may be, no matter how good we may think we are, because of our fallen human nature, we have all been guilty of sin and stand in need of repentance. The ashes remind us of the coming judgment of God. Finally, there is a sense of urgency about this call to repentance, because we have no idea when death will come to claim us.
Today's liturgy points to a number of Lenten themes. For instance: repentance, a new beginning, reconciliation, preparation, almsgiving, and of course, prayer and fasting. There are others also, and they will recur throughout our Lenten readings. Going off in too many directions at once often results in nothing being accomplished. Perhaps we should find one theme, one action, around which we should organize our thoughts and intentions, today. Ashes are an obvious focus. They suggest, as such things should, various responses. We are formed from dust, we come from the earth, and our bodies will return to it (cf. Gen 3:19b). In other words, our life is brief, fragile, almost nothing in terms of volume and time. "Now," then, as the second reading urges, "is the acceptable time." Let's give our life in Christ serious attention, time, and effort. God will re-create us in the resurrection. So, what we make of this life, with God's grace, is all-important and worth the effort. Ashes also set as a reminder to be serious, in the best sense of the word. We're not to simply follow our own way of thinking and become swept up in merely the present-day circumstances.
Repentance means a turning away from sin and a turning towards God. A real change of heart is necessary for all of us. In the Scriptures, you will hear what God's will is for you - just what you are to do to practice repentance. In the Mass, we look to God in order that we may receive the graces we need to fulfill what we learn through the Scriptures. For this Lent, one theme should emerge as the result of your reflections and prayer that can motivate you and inspire you.
Think about it the next few days!