Lent and Ash Wednesday

We begin the liturgical season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The ashes are made from burning the palm leaves from the previous Palm/Passion Sunday. The symbolism is rich.

We all too often fall away from our initial enthusiasm for Jesus, and crucify him afresh when we return to nonspiritual and godless mentalities and actions of life. We might still go to church and call ourselves Christians or believers and such, but inside our mode of operation remains nonspiritual, materialistic, and self absorbed.

Lent is the season to "do penance," and "repent." Penance and repentance simply mean to turn around. We turn back to God and true spirituality based on a self diffusive and self emptying love of God, humanity, and all creation. (Phil 2)

To be acceptable repentance must be "contrite." We must have a "humble and contrite heart." (PS 51) Repentance can be because of "attrition," or "contrition."

Attrition means that we turn around because it just makes good sense. God is the author of life, and those who really want to live life fully must turn to Him in order to do it right. While this is a good beginning, it is not enough. It can still be self focused.

Contrition means that we turn back to God out of love. Love is by its nature self emptying, and totally focused on anther's good. Ironically, it is then that we ourselves are most fulfilled. As Jesus says, we must lose ourselves for Him and others in order to find ourselves. We must die in order to really live.

Contrition involves love. It also involves a real living relationship. So when we stray from love we return with healthy sorrow for turning away in the first place. This is not an unhealthy sorrow that cripples us in fear. It is a healthy sorrow that unlocks healthy emotions and real heartfelt love. It causes us to come fully alive where once we may have allowed our hearts to turn to stone. It also renews and makes right our relationships with God and others again.

Lent also involves some external disciplines. We may fast, or do works of mercy for those in need, or pray more than usual. This is not about religious calisthenics. It is just about working on areas that might need a bit more attention so that we can do them better throughout the year. It also shows our love for God and people in a special way.

The Rule of St. Benedict in the monastic tradition says that the life of the monk should be a perpetual Lent. We are to go the extra mile, as Jesus said, every day. But it also says that Lenten practices are also good for the monks. His one stipulation is that the monks should reveal their Lenten practices to the Abbot.

This is not about allowing someone else to run our life, or to give them undue power over us. This is done to avoid overdoing it in a religiously fanatical way, or in under doing it in a self indulgent way. It also keeps the monk from becoming self directed in an unhealthy way. As the saying goes, only a fool has oneself as a spiritual director! Self diagnosis is also a bad idea when we need medical care. It is always good to submit to obedience for the sake of humbly recognizing that an elder or spiritual father or mother can still help us on our spiritual journey. When done well, they help us to become more mature and spiritually discerning in our daily life.

So this year receive your ashes meaningfully, and "make a good Lent." Let's all of us acknowledge our shortcomings, and turn back to God and each other in deeply meaningful ways. Have a good and holy Lent this year!