Ash Wednesday
(Joel 2:12-18; II Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)
At the beginning of the first “Rocky” movie, the protagonist
is completely out of shape. As he begins
training for his big fight, he strains to run up a flight of stairs. Later in the movie, however, after weeks of
training Rocky bounds up the stairs like a deer being chased. A transformation has taken place. Rocky has sloughed off both weight and
lethargy to perform in a totally superior way.
Such a transformation is our goal during Lent.
Although it may improve our looks, shedding a few pounds
should not be what motivates us to give up sweets for six weeks. If it were, we would be no better than the hypocrites
whose righteousness Jesus tells us to supersede in today’s gospel. No, we must concern ourselves primarily with
internal order not external appearance.
Through fasting, prayer, and charity we hope to become like Jesus
himself. His self-control and compassion
are the high stars in heaven to which we hope to come near.
It is only natural that we begin Lent with a touch of
regret. It is hard to forsake comforts
and concentrate our minds on what is holy.
But our reluctance will turn into rejoicing at the end of the forty
days. Then we will find ourselves
renewed in soul and body.
