Wednesday 22 February
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 • Ash Wednesday
Lent is a time to return to God with our whole heart. It is a time to convert our hearts to the panorama of God’s grace. The truth is, it is hard to think of ourselves as needing conversion. We tend to think it’s those who are struggling with addiction or lost in dark and self-destructive ways of thinking and acting that need this grace. And, of course, those who do not go to church.
Pope Benedict caused a stir recently when he suggested that agnostics who are constantly exercised by the question of God, those who long for a pure heart and suffer on account of their sin, are closer to the kingdom of God than believers whose life of faith is ‘routine’ and who regard the Church merely as an institution, without letting their hearts be touched by faith. Tough and challenging words – especially for those whose life of faith is ‘routine’ and, as the prophet Isaiah put it, who ‘honour me with their lips while their hearts are from me’ (Isaiah 29:13).
We are all in need of conversion, a second and ongoing conversion, if you like. Full conversion is not a superficial or transient thing, but a spiritual journey that allows us to challenge ourselves deeply and results in a sincere act of repentance and sorrow for sin. This kind of conversion is possible because God is rich in mercy and love. We cannot convert ourselves, no matter how hard we try. Conversion is truly an interior work of God within us, the movement of a contrite heart attracted and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first.
If we don’t feel like being converted, what are we to do? If our hearts don’t feel very repentant, what are we to do? St Augustine of Hippo said, ‘God created us without us, but God does not save us without us.’ In other words, because of the gift of free will, and because of God’s love for us, as free-thinking and rational creatures, he invites us to co-operate and participate with him. And this is precisely what Lent is: a time to co-operate and participate with God’s abundant grace.
Father, open up my heart to the grace of this holy season of Lent. Create in me a new and softened heart which weeps more readily for my sin but also rejoices in my salvation.
Joel 2:12-18 • Psalm 50(51):3-6, 12-14, 17
2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2 • Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
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