A sober affair, no flowers, no organ with the mass, purple and cold (did they turn off the heat?), two catechists were blessed with oil, we all received ash-crosses on our forehead and listened to a homily on 'the Happy Sinner'.
Rend your hearts, not your garments (Jl 2:13)
Happy Sinner? I wish i could recall the homily verbatim, but the gist was that sin involves a relationship. A transgression involves more than one: one crosses a line drawn by another. It accrues bad karma. It throws ones conscience out of alignment. The Jews would tear their clothes as an outward sign of sin, but we are asked for inward signs, not public demonstrations to others, but earnestly acknowledge any shortcomings to God through prayer, our hearts.
...when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you (Mt 6:6)
This Ash Wednesday are told that to dwell on ones sins is in many ways self indulgence. Bad me. Poor me. However, think of others who have been affected by my sins and make it right! Lent is about prayer, penitence and fasting: pray to God, admit and undo faults done to others and fast for ones Self. Show fortitude and vigilance. Be forgiving and generous. Accept God's grace joyfully, because He gives it through Love. Though we may sin, being miserable is not God's intent, we are told. We shall be repayed by God fairly and justly for our efforts. As today's psalm says: Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (Ps 51)
And thus, though this is the season we are asked to voluntarily journey into our own desert for fourty days, to there be confronted by the consequences of our own actions, to meditate on the meaning we give to our own lives, we are not alone for God is with us with His mercy and grace. Though i have sinned, or chosen a lesser path, or transgressed, crossed a line i knew was there, may i be aware of this, know that i can do better and be both inspired and sustained by Love's eternal grace to come Home. How can i not be happy?
Deo gratias.
Rend your hearts, not your garments (Jl 2:13)
Happy Sinner? I wish i could recall the homily verbatim, but the gist was that sin involves a relationship. A transgression involves more than one: one crosses a line drawn by another. It accrues bad karma. It throws ones conscience out of alignment. The Jews would tear their clothes as an outward sign of sin, but we are asked for inward signs, not public demonstrations to others, but earnestly acknowledge any shortcomings to God through prayer, our hearts.
...when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you (Mt 6:6)
This Ash Wednesday are told that to dwell on ones sins is in many ways self indulgence. Bad me. Poor me. However, think of others who have been affected by my sins and make it right! Lent is about prayer, penitence and fasting: pray to God, admit and undo faults done to others and fast for ones Self. Show fortitude and vigilance. Be forgiving and generous. Accept God's grace joyfully, because He gives it through Love. Though we may sin, being miserable is not God's intent, we are told. We shall be repayed by God fairly and justly for our efforts. As today's psalm says: Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (Ps 51)
And thus, though this is the season we are asked to voluntarily journey into our own desert for fourty days, to there be confronted by the consequences of our own actions, to meditate on the meaning we give to our own lives, we are not alone for God is with us with His mercy and grace. Though i have sinned, or chosen a lesser path, or transgressed, crossed a line i knew was there, may i be aware of this, know that i can do better and be both inspired and sustained by Love's eternal grace to come Home. How can i not be happy?
Deo gratias.
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