Reflection for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Today marks one week since we began our Lenten journey with ashes. Why ashes? The discovery of ashes probably goes back to the first discovery of fire. Already in prehistoric times, people were using ashes for decorations, even tattoos, the removable kind!
I would venture to say that today the most common use of ashes is their symbolic value. Even when today’s religious faith and practice have become less obvious, the custom of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday is still prevalent. The person with ashes on their forehead is admitting publicly that they are a sinner and in need of spiritual reform.
Today’s story of the unwilling Prophet Jonah can teach a great deal about how reform takes place in the human story. As you know, Jonah did not want to be a reforming prophet. He ran from God’s call and tried to escape to a foreign country. We can sidestep the story of his three days in the belly of a whale as an allegory to make the point that God is in charge. When our reluctant reformer finally began to preach repentance, he was amazed at the result, which of course was due to the power of God. Ashes showed up everywhere, first on the king, indicating that the people were willing to do penance because the fire of God’s love moved their hearts.
That is the core meaning of the Jonah story. People’s hearts were touched and moved. What about us? The cross of ashes may be long-gone by today, but what about the fire and desire of our hearts? It’s never too late to think about that reforming fire changing our hearts as it did for the people of Nineveh. Likewise, our country is currently divided and has forgotten the language of compromise and adjustment. If ever there was a need for interior renewal and mutual communication it is now.
How willing are we to be changed on the inside? Ashes speak of past fire. Where is our fire? Trusting in the power of God, even a few reluctant prophets can help to transform our present society in ways we would never have thought possible.
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources