Lenten Moments of Mercy: Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday   As we enter Lent, let us open our hearts to respond to God’s grace.

Scripture “Create in me a clean heart, O God,      and put a new and right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10   Reflection “Self-help” books are very popular. They tell us how to improve ourselves. We turn to them for advice on how to have a more appealing personality, to become better business people, or to grow in personal relationships. In these books we find a set of disciplines which promise the reader success in life. All it takes is belief in yourself and commitment to the process. All too often when we approach the season of Lent, we might think of it as a period of self-improvement. We commit ourselves to the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We might make a list of what we can accomplish. Perhaps we will give special attention to daily prayer. Maybe we will place an alms box on the dining table to remind ourselves to give to the poor. Maybe we will give up chocolate. All of these actions are good in and of themselves, but we lessen their effect on our spiritual lives by believing that they are personal accomplishments. Psalm 51:10 helps us enter the season of Lent. It helps us recognize that the meaning of the season is to respond to the grace God offers. We begin Lent by petitioning the Lord to create in us a clean heart. Lent is the season when we take time to listen to God, to ask what he requires of us, and to respond to his grace. In this way, the disciplines we practice—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—will not be personal accomplishments, but ways in which we can open ourselves to becoming the person God wants us to be.

Pope Francis “We are invited to embark upon a journey on which, by defying routine, we strive to open our eyes and ears, but especially to open our hearts, in order to go beyond our own ‘backyard.’” Homily at the Basilica of Santa Sabina, 5 March 2014   Lenten Action ► Reflect on today’s Gospel with Arts & Faith: Lent for Ash Wednesday.  ► Explore Lenten resources from Loyola Press.   Prayer Have mercy on us, O God, and show us your steadfast love and abundant mercy.

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