As we enter the solemn season of Lent with Ash Wednesday, we are invited into a period of introspection, penance, and spiritual renewal. The readings from Joel 2:12-19 and Matthew 6:16-21 offer profound insights into the nature of this sacred time, guiding us on a journey back to the heart of our faith and the core of our being.
Returning with All Your Heart
In Joel 2:12, we hear the Lord’s stirring call: “Return to me with all your heart.” This invitation is not merely about physical or external actions but a deep, heartfelt return. The passage emphasizes fasting, weeping, and mourning, not as ends in themselves, but as expressions of genuine inner transformation. It’s a reminder that our journey during Lent should be one of true contrition and openness to change, stripping away the superficial to reveal a heart fully turned towards God.
The communal aspect of this return in Joel 2:13-19 is particularly striking. It’s not just individuals who are called to repentance, but the entire community — elders, children, and even newlyweds. This collective dimension underscores the Church’s role as a community of believers, supporting one another in our spiritual journey, sharing in the sorrow for our sins, and together seeking God’s mercy and grace.
The Heart’s Treasure
Matthew 6:16-21 shifts the focus to the individual’s inner disposition, especially regarding acts of piety like fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Jesus warns against performing religious duties for show, emphasizing that the true value of these actions lies in their invisibility to others and visibility to God. “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt 6:17-18). The passage invites us to a sincere practice of faith, one that seeks no earthly reward or recognition but treasures the unseen, intimate relationship with our Creator.
In the culminating verse, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21), we find a profound truth that resonates beyond the Lenten season. This statement calls us to examine our priorities, our values, and ultimately, the direction of our lives. It challenges us to consider what we truly value and to align our hearts with the imperishable treasures of faith, hope, and love.
Ashes to Resurrection
Ash Wednesday embodies these scriptural themes in the poignant symbol of ashes. The imposition of ashes on our foreheads in the shape of a cross serves as a visible sign of our mortality and penitence. Yet, within this act of humility lies a promise — the promise of renewal, of resurrection. As we acknowledge our sins and our human frailty, we also embrace the hope offered through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.
This Lent, let us heed the call to return to God with all our hearts, engaging in the practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving not as ends in themselves but as means to deepen our relationship with God. Let us support one another in our communal journey of faith, remembering that our true treasure lies not in the accolades of this world but in the love and grace of God, which leads us to eternal life. May this season of Lent be a time of genuine spiritual renewal, drawing us closer to the heart of God and the essence of our faith.