Be merciful, Oh Lord, for we have sinned!

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is the beginning of the Lenten Season. It is the day we mark our foreheads in ashes with the sign of the cross to serve as a reminder of our mortality and the need for God’s forgiveness in our lives.  This mark also serves as an outward sign of faith and repentance and invites us to reflect upon our sins.

While the Lenten journey only lasts for weeks, our journey of life is forever.  Every day is an opportunity to ask for God’s forgiveness. Every day you and I must be an outward sign of our faith as well as an expression of our repentance as we reflect upon what we have done wrong. I still remember being told as a child never to go to bed without saying the Act of Contrition.  “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. You and I should live each day of our lives as an Ash Wednesday simply, because we sin.

Our Catholic faith teaches us we are made in the image and likeness of God, and that sin offends God.  Therefore, we must also conclude it offends people.

How often do we allow our behavior to mistreat others?  

There are so many occasions that seem to no longer affect us  i.e. prejudice, discrimination, selfishness, irritability, bias, or infidelity.

Further, the Bible teaches us that sin involves a condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined toward evil.

In our reading from the book of Joel, when the locusts attacked the countryside and destroyed the crops, the people who were immediately affected - harvesters, farmers, and priests - were called to lament for their sins. The people believed they had not been faithful to God and had sinned, therefore food was lost and they were responsible.

Today, we have a time of uncertainty. Many fear what will come next. I think it important that we begin by looking back just a bit and say to ourselves, “What have we done and how do we begin to repair our lives?"  

A few years ago, a politician was speaking to a news reporter on television, and she told an untruth. The reporter called her on it and said, “I’m sorry, but that is not true.” She replied, “That is an alternative fact.” The words alternative facts became popular, even though it was a lie.  Do we live with alternative facts also known as lies, or do we simply tell the truth? Do we tell the truth about how we treat our neighbors?  Do we tell the truth about how we feed the hungry, give drinks to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned. Do we even know or care who they are?  Do we tell the truth about how we feel empowered over others because of the color of their skin, where they live, or the amount of money they may not have.  Do we make comments such as “they should pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” when they do not even have boots?  Are we so caught up in worldly things, we cannot see God’s grace in each other. Have we forgotten to care for the earth.  Have we forgotten that all things are created in the image and likeness of God. My brothers and sisters, have we simply forgotten to tell the truth.

Even in the church, as we cross ourselves with ashes to prepare for this Lenten season there is animosity. We have leaders in the political realm who proclaim to be devout in their faith, yet only think about themselves. Whatever happened to honesty?! Many of our neighbors are enduring physical and mental hardships, unable to buy groceries because of the cost of food, worried about whether their social security will be cut, while the rich want to take more for themselves and have money they could never spend in a lifetime.  Why is there so much greed?   Did we not learn we are called to be ambassadors for Christ?  The reality is we should be crossing ourselves everyday with ashes to ask for repentance, to ask for God’s forgiveness, and to be the example of Chris .

In our reading from Corinthians today we find Paul’s rivals charging that he does not have the appearance, skills, or social status to claim the achievements or religious experiences of a true apostle.  His critics show they judge others by worldly standards. Again, judging others by alternative facts.

Think about the times we may judge others daily. Perhaps we may be  standing in line to make a purchase and the person in front of us has what seems like “a thousand questions,” you or I may make a judgement about that person but if the table were turned, it could be either one of us asking the questions.  “Psychology Today,” says we are sometimes critical of others and realize that we do the same thing.  

Our call is not to be judgmental but rather be an ambassador for Christ. When we tell the truth, grace comes.  Grace follows when we treat our neighbors well.  When we greet our neighbor, perhaps by just saying, “hello how are you today.” Grace is present, because each of us is made in the image and likeness of Our God.  We are Grace!

As we travel through this Lenten Season let us be mindful of our sins, treat each day as Ash Wednesday going forth, ask forgiveness for our sins, do not forget to love each other as Christ has called us to do, and in these difficult times may we walk faithfully with Jesus through his ministry and to the Cross where he suffered and died that our sins may be forgiven.

As we walk with Jesus to the cross, following Jesus means striving to be like Him. He always obeyed His Father, so that’s what we strive to do (John 8:29; 15:10). To truly follow Christ means to make Him the Boss. That’s what it means to make Jesus Lord of our lives (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 2 Corinthians 4:5). Every decision and dream is filtered through His Word with the goal of glorifying Him in everything (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are not saved by the things we do for Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9) but by what He has done for us. Because of His grace, we want to please Him in everything. All this is accomplished as we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of every area of our lives (Ephesians 5:18). He explains the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 2:14), empowers us with spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), comforts us (John 14:16), and guides us (John 14:26). To follow Christ means we apply the truths we learn from His Word and live as if Jesus walked beside us in person.