Contrite Hearts
Will you receive ashes today?
Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. - Jonah 3:4-6
In today's reading, Jonah overcomes his reluctance to do God's will and goes into the city of Ninevah proclaiming the fate that will befall them.
To everyone's surprise, the king and the people believe him and repent. They performed acts of self sacrifice, from fasting to dressing in uncomfortable, scratchy clothing. And the king covered himself with ashes.
The ashes of a red heifer when burned ceremoniously on the altar were believed to have a purifying effect. Sitting in ashes and covering oneself are signs of mourning. The king was mourning his past life and seeking to purify his soul, to be renewed and cleansed of his former life.
By receiving ashes on our foreheads today, we will be doing the same in a very symbolic way. But will we understand what we are doing, or will we be going through the motions?
It is easy to follow the prescribed traditions, to say and hear words, and fail to come prepared to do and be what we say we are.
So, before we head off to work, to school, to play, to do all those things we always do, we should stop and take a moment to think of the shadows and dark spots in our lives and to decide if we want to continue to carry them around, or are we ready and willing to let them go?
If we look upon Lent as a period of sacrifice in preparation for Easter, I think we are only at the beginning of the journey. Yes, we lay claim to repentance and renewal in our prayers, thoughts and words, but this is a time of truly letting go of something that has kept us from being fully who we are intended to be.
When we read the story of Jonah, we find a man a lot like us. He doubts his value in the eyes of God who has great plans for him. He tries to escape God's reach and influence, but he can't, and so eventually he gives in and does what he believes will lead him into danger and possibly death.
He is afraid to be fully himself, and yet, to his amazement, the people listen to him and they change. God spares them. Jonah is a hero.
So, bearing that in mind, what is it God has planned for us that we are reluctant to take on?
As we grind down our faults together and turn them into ashes, perhaps a new heart, a new soul will appear in the dust, and we will find our way, not because we were good and gave up chocolate for Lent, but because we chose to look deep into our God-given gifts and strengths and discover what amazing things we can do with them.
More to come...
Collect for Ash Wednesday
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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