Readings for Ash Wednesday/A:
Joel: 1-17; Mt. 6:1-6;16-21
February 6, 2008
The Rev. Karen Faye Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino, CA
“Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts…through Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Today’s Collect BCP 264]
In yesterday’s Forward Day by Day, the author speaks of an experience that she had several years ago at the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. This musical portrays the passion of Jesus through contemporary music. For this author, the most moving moment of the production occurred after the play was over, during the curtain calls: “Judas emerged tentative, alone, from one side of the stage; unexpectedly, Jesus appeared at the other side, striding toward Judas with his arms outstretched in forgiveness.” This is the image I would like for you to carry around during this season on Lent. The power of forgiveness (both for ourselves and others) sets the tone for new possibilities. Forgiveness is the only way forward for a transformed life, for a transformed society.
All of us were created for a life of joy. And yet we and our society have made choices and created institutions that put major road-blocks in our way. These major road-blocks either sap our joy or prevent joy from ever surfacing. Some of us have been so knocked around by these road-blocks that we have come to believe that a life of joy is not possible. Restoring joy into our lives is one of the major aims of the religious journey. The good news is, if we take an honest look at those road-blocks, refuse to participate in them, and make a commitment to choose differently, then joy will become part and parcel of our life. How do we begin this process?
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It is the day on which we gather as a community of faith to make a corporate confession of the roadblocks in our lives that keep us and others from a life of joy. No person is an island unto himself. Everything we do (or don’t do), every decision we make (or don’t make) has an impact on ourselves and society at large. So it is important to make a corporate confession of faith and look at our responsibility in participating in road-blocks that sap our joy, destroy our earth, and create an unjust world.
When it comes to making changes in our society, it can be very difficult to permanently change the culture. As a result, we often become discouraged. Many have come to believe that if we could just elect “the right” president or the “right congress”, then all will be well. But politicians can only work in the system to which they have been elected. If the system is corrupt, even the best of politicians will be challenged to make any significant change. What are we to do?
We need to begin by becoming the change we wish to see in the world. Society is made up of individuals. As individuals change, so will society. As families change, so will society. As congregations change, so will society. Imagine how much the world could change if every Christian who came to receive ashes today, were to be contrite of heart, repent of alienating behavior, commit to a new way of being, and then be open to the power of God’s grace to be made new? Never underestimate the ability of a committed group of Christians to change the world!
In a few moments, we will kneel and receive ashes on our foreheads. This is a sign of our commitment to say no to alienating behavior and yes to joy. It is also a reminder that we have a limited time on earth to experience joy and to make a difference. How many years do you have left? Ten, twenty, thirty, forty? Don’t let those years go by without consciously making choices that can elicit joy in your life.
As we kneel in confession as a corporate body and take a serious look at where we have failed to love, where we have failed to forgive, where we have failed to serve others, don’t be afraid to look at the pain and disappointments of the past. Because on the other side of the stage is Jesus, striding towards us with his arms outstretched in forgiveness. He sees us as the beloved and longs for us to experience joy. May you accept that forgiveness for yourself and then offer that forgiveness to others so that joy may be made complete in your life.
| Updated February 8, 2008 |
|