Ash Wednesday – Joel 2:12-18; Ps 50:3-6,12-14,17; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Ashes on the head.

It will quickly fall off, and the rest will be washed away. But are we, however, ready to endure the discomfort of aligning our “self” with the Gospel?

Ash Wednesday implores us, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” As the prophet Joel’s voice echoes through the ages, a profound revelation strikes: “Rend your hearts and not your garments.” These words were declared amidst the devastation of locust plagues, yet Joel conveyed assurance that a compassionate God would regard our sincere repentance.

Today, while modern plagues differ, the essence of the divine appeal remains – a call to a deeper sanctity might see these tribulations retreat. These challenges we face are not necessarily divine punishments but could be trials to manifest the authenticity of our faith.

The most arresting thought today, however, is the divine plea to rend our hearts, not merely our garments. True conversion extends beyond a fleeting emotional display – it’s not an external self-chastisement that loses its fervour with time. Rather, it’s an enduring transformation from within, a profound shift in our cognitive and emotional landscape. It invites us to re-evaluate and reorder our value system, asking us to consider what genuinely holds importance in our lives, not just in theory but in sincere practice.

Holy Spirit, infuse me with the grace to alter my perspective, that I may see through the Divine lens, cherish what You cherish, and grow in the love that You have for all. May this Ash Wednesday remind us that our journey towards heavenly ideals is not clothed in transient expressions, but in the perpetual renewal of our hearts.