Ash Wednesday


'And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 5:5-6

Today is Ash Wednesday. Lent begins. The church and the community of the faithful claim these next 40 days to highlight a process of transformation. Many of us will enter Lent by opening the invitation uttered in the words "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return." We remember that we are mortal...imperfect in our humanity. All that is human and grounded in this world will pass away.
We yearn for the mysterious love of the one who knows us intimately and who guides us on the path of truth and light. We remember (we cling to) the promise: In Christ and through the life given to us so freely at our Baptism we can walk in eternity.

Now as we walk through Lent, we consent to let God lead open our understanding about our true selves as God sees us.   Sometimes we fear an awareness of our "secret" sins. Ah...secret? That is where we fool ourselves. To meet God where God is blessing us, we must move toward that place we erroneously name "secret"... We are reminded that the deepest places of our thoughts and actions are known by God...with crystal clarity. God alone knows what we need to move out of the darkness of secrecy and His hand reaches out to guide us on the path to new life. 

This is a day to begin at the center of who you are, child of God, baptized and claimed by the Creator of the universe. Rooted in that identity, precious in God's sight, begin the walk through Lent. Day by day, step by step, moment by moment, you are invited to accept the transforming action of God in all of the "secret" places of your heart.

There are no short cuts...no fast forwarding. We must allow our pride and our self-image to bow to that. Wait and walk these 40 days...the Father who knows and loves you completely is inviting you!