Homily, Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday 2022

Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

We are fortunate to live in a time when recycling has become ever more prevalent. By diverting paper, plastics, and other materials away from landfills and toward recycling is productive. Something that once seemed to have reached the end of its useful life is collected, reshaped, and re-formed into something that will provide joy and usefulness for many years to come.

As we gather on this Ash Wednesday, we enter into the Church’s great plan for recycling. The ashes that will be imposed on our heads in just a short time are a wonderful representation of this. Once the beautiful palm branches that we waved in great joy as we recalled Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, these branches that turned to ashes will be used to remind us of the need for repentance, change and growth as we enter into this season of Lent.

Many times, our commitment to Christ has become as insubstantial as ash. We have been unfaithful to the king we hailed’ Hosanna”. As those who have lived in bushfire-prone areas know, ash is also the regenerating remnant of what was once alive and can again bring forth prolific new life. Many things that were once alive in us have probably died and turned to ash; illness has struck, friendships have been broken, illusions about ourselves or others have been destroyed. It is out such ashes that we hope Christ will raise us up to new life with him at Easter.

During the season of Lent, the Church calls us to traditional Christian practices: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These have to be done in the way Jesus teaches his disciples. He tells them and us; give alms, pray, fast with integrity, not expecting praise and reward from others but to bring holiness and goodness into your life and the lives of those around you. There is a difference between secrecy and humility. Secrecy has destroyed the lives of innocent people and protected unjust aggressors. When Jesus says, “Close the door, and pray to your Father in secret” and do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret” he is telling his disciples to remember why they are doing what they are doing.

So, during this sacred season, we are first going to pray. Probably, we won't be spending long hours in prayer like they do in monasteries, but we will be praying for a significant time, and we will be praying well, from the heart, every day. Pray with loving attentiveness to the God who sees you.

Secondly, we are going to do some fasting. Over the years, the real meaning of fasting has been watered down; many people give up or take up something for Lent as a kind of self-improvement activity, which is okay in itself. But fasting goes much deeper than self-help. The kind of fasting the Church recommends, referred to in today's readings, is a spiritual discipline. By freely denying ourselves the good and licit pleasure of the things we like most, we are saying something to God. Perhaps, you cannot manage 24 hours on bread and water, so you are going to fast from something else. How about no cellphone for two hours a day? No television one or two days a week? No coffee or tea, just water? No or less desserts? Fast from leaving mass before mass ends. Fast from all that tempts you to forget your need for God. 

Thirdly, we are going to give some alms to people who really need our help. If we haven't given some help to the needy around us or those affected by various circumstances, this is the time. What you save from the fast can go to a god cause! Find someone to help and give to those in dire need. Go and visit that lonely person you don't want to visit because they drive us crazy. 

We’ve been glued to the news watching the tragedy of the aggression toward the Ukrainian people. We’ve cried at the deaths and suffering of innocent people. We’ve been blown away by the courage of the everyday heroes of the Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have stood valiantly with faith and courage facing a relentless aggressor. A few days ago, Pope Francis made a visit to the Russian embassy with a message for the Russian leader to end this war. The Holy Father e subsequently asked all of us, believers and non-believers to fast and pray for the people of Ukraine.

The pandemic began during Lent just two years ago and now we see war at the start of another one. Especially now, God is calling the world to conversion - to repentance, to mercy, to fraternity and to trust. Let us pray that the same God who graciously transforms our simple gifts of bread and wine into the body and blood of his Son will lovingly transform each of us, so that we might rise, reshaped, and renewed, in the glory of Easter. I wish you a fruitful sacred season of Lent.