Word to the Wise
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 - Ash Wednesday
[Joel 2:12-18 and 2 Cor 5:20-6:2 and Matt 6:1-6, 16-18]We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We imlore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. [2 Cor.]
Lent begins today. This year it will be richly colored by the special Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. Not only does he exhort all of us who are baptized to be "missionaries of mercy," he has also commissioned some special confessors around the world to deal with even the most serious of offenses. He has also written a book-length interview entitled THE NAME OF GOD IS MERCY in which he does exactly what St. Paul says in the second scripture today. He implores everyone, especially those most alienated from the church, "Be reconciled to God."
Tomorrow, Thursday, I will "hit the road" to preach four straight parish missions in Louisiana and Texas. Usually on the second day of the mission, I celebrate a Penance Service in which I use an Examination of Conscience that focuses on the relationships we have with various peope, including ourselves, parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, employers, professional people, etc.. It offers a chance to show mercy and ask for it in the form of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is one of the most difficult tasks of Christian life. If we can bring ourselves to ask for God's forgiveness AND the forgiveness of those whom we have hurt. If we can bring ourselves TO forgive God and those who have hurt us, we will do a lot more good than giving up chocolate or booze as our Lenten penitential observance. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are noble things to do for the right reasons, as the gospel today points out. But forgiveness touches the center of our hearts and minds. A Lent of reconciliation can change our lives. Losing the burden of unforgiveness will do more for us than the few pounds we lose by giving up chocolate or booze! AMEN
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