Homily: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday (Mt 6:1-6, 16-18) “Take a Step Towards Spiritual Health”
We have all been sick in our life. When we are sick, we might want to take medication. If we take medicine, we probably will get well faster. We have different remedies for different things. We all have medicine cabinets at home full of pills, balms, cotton balls and sanitizing products.
If someone we love is sick, we are quick with advice. Have a headache, you need aspirin. Have a rash, put some ointment on it. Have an infection, get some antibiotics. For more serious illnesses we suggest stronger measures. Having heart palpitations, let’s go to the emergency room. You took at bad fall I’m calling an ambulance.
Everyone would probably agree with the things I just said until we ourselves have some kind of physical problem. In that case we are slower to act. If we start to have a sore throat for example. We say to ourselves, maybe, it will go away on its own. We might think that if we just keep pushing ahead things will get better. We don’t need help.
Sin can be considered a form of illness. We know that we shouldn’t be engaging in certain types of behavior, yet we can’t resist. We continue to sin until we can work our way into deep trouble. Our bad choices might cause us physical harm, mental anguish or spiritual turmoil. We need medicine. Our lives can be out of control. We, as we like to say, “Can find ourselves in a bad place.” At certain times of the year, we probably are more likely to find ourselves in a spiritual crisis. Or we might just feel drained.
The month of February is one of those times. Usually, the nights are long. The days are gray. When we see the sun, it is a great event. The temperature is cold. And there is a constant dampness in the air. We might medicate ourselves with comfort food, alcohol, social media, idle talk, or a host of other harmful habits. At this time of year, we can hit a wall. We may be tempted to quit, give up and throw in the towel.
The word Lent is translated into English in several ways. One translation says that Lent means to lengthen. The days of the year, from this point forward will gradually get longer. Light will increase. Another translation for the word Lent is that it means Spring. The seasons are going to change in the next six weeks. The earth will gradually wake up. New life will come. We can passively wait for these things to happen. We can also take some medicine for the soul. We can do penance. What are the remedies for the spiritual lethargy that we are feeling. Religious wisdom says that they are fasting, prayer, charity.
All three of these penances fit together. When we fast, we give something up. We can give up food. We might not eat between meals for these six weeks. If we do this, we will find that we will be more mentally alert. After lunch we won’t lose energy, but we will gain energy. Science has shown that giving our digestive track a break gives our whole body a rest. The health benefits are palpable. We can fast from other things as well. We can give up screen time so that we might spend some face time with those that we love. I was told a few days ago about a major phone company that is encouraging clients to “take five” from their cell phones. Even those who make smart phones seem to be worried about overuse.
Health care professionals always emphasize the benefits of meditation. If we spend time in reflection every day, we will find that we have a much better outlook on life. Slowing our racing minds down is important for good mental health. Twenty minutes of prayer a day can give us a renewed sense of hope.
All this can lead to a greater appetite to engage in charity. The money we save for engaging in frivolous pursuits can be redirected to help those in most need. The new sense of purpose we feel from our prayer can motivate us to engage in charitable acts.
As we begin this Lent, we might feel like things aren’t quite right in our lives. We have a forty-day opportunity to redirect the course of our lives. The question is whether we are ready to take the medicine that faith filled people have used for a cure for thousands of years: fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
Reflection Questions:
1. Did I ever think of penance as medicine? How might penance heal me?
2. What penance will I engage in this year? Is self-denial a good thing?
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Dear Parishioners,
If you are reading this, you still have time to attend Mass today. We have a service at 5:45 p.m. today. After Mass there will be a simple supper in Culemans Hall. Start off Lent the right way and attend Mass and be signed with Ashes.
The northeast door of the church will be open for Mass today. There are handicapped parking spots in back of the new addition. The railings have been installed. This is the first step in opening our new space.
Let’s pray for each other as Lent begins.
Fr. Mark