The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Ash Wednesday, challenge us to accept that reconciliation with the people in our lives and with God is a fruit and promise of true love.
The reading from the Book of Joel, expresses a desire to return to the Lord and attend to God’s Response and Promise.
* [2:14] Blessing: the rain that makes possible the grapes and grain (v. 19) that workers will process into Temple offerings.
* [2:16] Elderly…infants…bridegroom…bride: Jerusalem is in such great danger that even those normally excused from fasting or working are called upon to participate in activities to ward off the imminent catastrophe.
* [2:17] Between the porch and the altar: the priests stood in the open space between the outdoor altar for burnt offerings and the Temple building.
* [2:18] Jealous: the Hebrew word describes the passionate empathetic bond the Lord has with Israel. The people’s wholehearted participation in Joel’s call for fasting and prayer sparks the Lord’s longing to protect and love his people Israel. This desire moves him to withhold punishment and to send the blessing of v. 14 instead. (Joel, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
Psalm 51 is a prayer for Cleansing and Pardon
* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. The two parts interlock by repetition of “blot out” in the first verse of each section (Ps 51:3, 11), of “wash (away)” just after the first verse of each section (Ps 51:4) and just before the last verse (Ps 51:9) of the first section, and of “heart,” “God,” and “spirit” in Ps 51:12, 19. The first part (Ps 51:3–10) asks deliverance from sin, not just a past act but its emotional, physical, and social consequences. The second part (Ps 51:11–19) seeks something more profound than wiping the slate clean: nearness to God, living by the spirit of God (Ps 51:12–13), like the relation between God and people described in Jer 31:33–34. Nearness to God brings joy and the authority to teach sinners (Ps 51:15–16). Such proclamation is better than offering sacrifice (Ps 51:17–19). The last two verses express the hope that God’s good will toward those who are cleansed and contrite will prompt him to look favorably on the acts of worship offered in the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 51:19 [20–21]). (Psalms, PSALM 51, n.d.)
In the reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul declares the Acceptable Time for Reconciliation.
* [5:18–21] Paul attempts to explain the meaning of God’s action by a variety of different categories; his attention keeps moving rapidly back and forth from God’s act to his own ministry as well. Who has reconciled us to himself: i.e., he has brought all into oneness. Not counting their trespasses: the reconciliation is described as an act of justification (cf. “righteousness,” 2 Cor 5:21); this contrasts with the covenant that condemned (2 Cor 3:8). The ministry of reconciliation: Paul’s role in the wider picture is described: entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19), he is Christ’s ambassador, through whom God appeals (2 Cor 5:20a). In v. 20b Paul acts in the capacity just described.
* [5:21] This is a statement of God’s purpose, expressed paradoxically in terms of sharing and exchange of attributes. As Christ became our righteousness (1 Cor 1:30), we become God’s righteousness (cf. 2 Cor 5:14–15). (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
* [6:1] Not to receive…in vain: i.e., conform to the gift of justification and new creation. The context indicates how this can be done concretely: become God’s righteousness (2 Cor 5:21), not live for oneself (2 Cor 5:15) be reconciled with Paul (2 Cor 6:11–13; 7:2–3).
* [6:2] In an acceptable time: Paul cites the Septuagint text of Is 49:8; the Hebrew reads “in a time of favor”; it is parallel to “on the day of salvation.” Now: God is bestowing favor and salvation at this very moment, as Paul is addressing his letter to them. (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches concerning Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting.
* [6:1–18] The sermon continues with a warning against doing good in order to be seen and gives three examples, almsgiving (Mt 6:2–4), prayer (Mt 6:5–15), and fasting (Mt 6:16–18). In each, the conduct of the hypocrites (Mt 6:2) is contrasted with that demanded of the disciples. The sayings about reward found here and elsewhere (Mt 5:12, 46; 10:41–42) show that this is a genuine element of Christian moral exhortation. Possibly to underline the difference between the Christian idea of reward and that of the hypocrites, the evangelist uses two different Greek verbs to express the rewarding of the disciples and that of the hypocrites; in the latter case it is the verb apechÅ, a commercial term for giving a receipt for what has been paid in full (Mt 6:2, 5, 16). (Matthew, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Matthew Walsh, S.J. comments on Joel 2: 18. The context seems to be a series of misfortunes that lead to a bad harvest. It is easy to see how God’s concern is stirred by the effects of these calamities: children unable to grow and thrive for lack of nourishment; farmers and agricultural workers who depend on the rains for their livelihood are left not only without food, but without needed income; the entire community anxiously concerned as the specter of famine seems to lurk.
As I read the news each day, which is filled with stories of war, famine and disaster of different kinds, my heart and mind are stirred. When I hear the stories of parishioners who struggle with personal tragedy and loss, my heart and mind are indeed stirred. If I’m honest, as I reflect on these stories, I realize that I am sometimes stirred to darkness. At other times, I notice that I may be stirred to skepticism—is it really good to give a handout to a man begging on the side of the road?—or legalism—maybe this person is having trouble because they don’t follow society’s rules. I’ve heard others speak of being stirred to religious and spiritual doubt, as well as despair by the senseless violence and tragedies we see and experience.
As I consider Joel’s observation that God was “stirred to concern” I wonder how God regards our world today. I sense that God is still stirred to concern, not only for those who suffer, but for everyone, and for creation! I sense, too, that God invites me to experience a “stirring”, which leads not to anxiety, darkness and despair, but to faith, hope and charity. The call I sense is to allow my mind and soul to be “stirred” not only by the news, but by the grace of God, and to follow that stirring into deeper prayer, loving action and fervent faith. (Walsh, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Lent - the epitome of our whole life,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 AD.
"Christians must always live in this way, without any wish to come down from their cross - otherwise they will sink beneath the world's mire. But if we have to do so all our lives, we must make an even greater effort during the days of Lent. It is not a simple matter of living through forty days. Lent is the epitome of our whole life." (excerpt from Sermon 205, 1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Joel 2:12-18 comments that the good news is that God has already made the first move toward us. By sending his Son among us as a man and by giving us his Holy Spirit, God has already come close to us. He is always near, but in our human weakness and sin, we drift away from him at times and lose sight of his love. So we need to repent and return to him—and there’s no better time to do this than Lent!
This year our opening articles focus on the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15. Let’s put ourselves into this moving story. Like the two sons in this parable, we have a choice to make. We can seize the opportunity that Lent offers us and take a step closer to the Lord. Or we can pull back and ignore God’s generous invitation.
Let’s not miss out on all that God has in store for us.
“Father, I want to return to you with all my heart this Lent!” (Meditation on Joel 2:12-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the very apocalyptic nature of the Book of Joel, that desires penance to purify our inner disposition. Paul declares to the Corinthians that today is the Day of Salvation. Friar Jude notes that after the destruction of the Temple, the rabbis prescribed prayer, fasting and almsgiving for the forgiveness of sins and Friar Jude reminds us of the role of motivation as we determine whether our piety is private or public.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Theologian Wendy Wright who identifies love as the essence of the Sacred Heart.
There is something in God and something in us that correspond. We come from, have our being in, and return to God. In the tradition of the heart, that correspondence is love. Love, not merely as sentiment or feeling, but love as the inner dynamism of God in God’s triune self. Love as the generative power that overcomes death. Love as self-donation. Love as the welcome of the “other” as another self. Love as the gravitational force that binds all disparate things together. Love as the fire that burns clean and as the balm that heals. Love as the vision that sees the integrity of both parts and whole. Love as source and end and the path between.
The tradition of the heart does not say merely that God loves us “because,” or that God’s love can be seen “in,” but that God is Love. And that God’s very essence truly in some small way might be encountered here and now. [3] (Rohr, 2024)
We ponder today the resonance of Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s occurring on the same day and seek enlightenment by the Spirit of how we will connect repentance and love in our relationship to friends and family.
References
Joel, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/joel/2?12
Matthew, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6?1
Meditation on Joel 2:12-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/02/14/895484/
Psalms, PSALM 51. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51?3
Rohr, R. (2024, February 14). A Sacred Heart of Fire — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-sacred-heart-of-fire/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=feb14
2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5
2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/6
Walsh, M. (2024, February 14). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021424.html
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