'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 commmunity of the faithful claim these next 40 days engage in a process of transformation. Many of us will enter Lent by accepting 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 everything 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.
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 require (need) to enable us to move out of the darkness of secrecy, illusion or denial. God's hand reaches through the darkness to guide us and support us on the path to new life.
This is a day to begin at the center of who you are: child of God, called by the Holy Spirit, and baptized in Christ. You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and marked with the cross of Christ forever.
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 and no fast forwarding. We must allow our pride, our desire for gratification, and our self-image to bow down before the Lord.
There are no short cuts and no fast forwarding. We must allow our pride, our desire for gratification, and our self-image to bow down before the Lord.
Wait and walk these 40 days. The Father who knows and loves you completely is inviting you!
2 comments:
I think revealing secrets can be considered a spiritual discipline. We are revealing our true selves, and we become vulnerable - which can lead to being loved as we are.
Amen! Marvellous! There are times when something is suddenly nameable -- a gut stirring or a fluttering emotion that suddenly has a name, perhaps even a face. I say, then, "oh.... so that is what has been going on!" The flood gate (not always tears... sometimes laughter or renewed creativity) opens, the secret becomes freedom.
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