From Fr Tony Akadavil:
ASH WEDNESDAY 2008 JL 2: 12-18; II COR 5: 20- 6:2; MT 6:1-6, 16-18
Introduction: Ash Wednesday (dies cinerum) is the Church’s Yom Kippur or the “Day of Atonement.” Its very name comes from the ancient practice, so dramatically illustrated in the Book of Job, of retreating to “sackcloth and ashes” when confronted with the glory and honor of God. In earlier times, Christians who had committed serious sins did public penance; they were required to wear sackcloth and be sprinkled with ashes. Ash Wednesday is not only the first of the forty days of Lent, but along with Good Friday is prescribed by the Church as a day of full fast and abstinence. Fasting is prescribed to reinforce our penitential prayer during this season. The prophet Joel in the first reading insists that we should experience a complete conversion of heart, and not simply sorrow for our sins. Saint Paul in the second reading advises us “to become reconciled to God.” Today’s gospel instructs us to assimilate the true spirit of fasting and prayer.
The blessing of the ashes: The priest, dipping his thumb into ashes (collected from burnt palms of previous Palm Sunday) marks the forehead of each with the sign of the cross, saying the words, "Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return."
Significance of the day: By marking the sign of the cross with ashes on the foreheads of her children, the Church gives us:
1- a firm conviction that a) we are mortal beings, b) our bodies will become dust when buried and ashes if cremated, and c) our life span is very brief and unpredictable;
2- a strong warning that we will be eternally punished if we do not repent of our sins and do penance;
3- a loving invitation to realize and acknowledge our sinful condition and return to our loving and forgiving God with true repentance, as the prodigal son did.
Ash Wednesday message: We are invited to effect a real conversion and renewal of life during the period of Lent by fasting, penance, and reconciliation. Penitence during Lent means regret; sorrow; a willingness to repent (to turn around and take a better way—God’s way. Penitence bids us remember and be painfully sorry for the times when we have put ourselves ahead of God, when we have not shared our faith, or served the oppressed or spoken up for justice and peace according to our gifts. On Ash Wednesday 2008, let us confess and mourn our failures to use our gifts as evangelists, healers, teachers, servants of the needy, peacemakers, and champions of justice, and our failures to fulfill the demands of our state in life – celibate, single, married, priests, religious, parents, children – and our particular vocations.
I- We are to do prayerful fasting: a) following the example of Jesus before his public ministry, and b) imitating the people of Nineveh, the Syrian king Ben Hadad who fasted pleading for mercy, and Queen Esther who fasted for her people.
(Historical note: In the past, the Greek Orthodox Christians had 180 days of fasting and the Orthodox as well as Catholic Syrian Christians had 225 to 290 days of fasting every year. The Roman church also had a number of fast days. Technically speaking, fasting is now only required on two days in Lent, namely, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In the United States, abstinence alone is commanded on all Fridays of Lent).
Fasting: True fasting is “tearing one’s heart and returning to God” with true repentance for one’s sins (Joel 2:13). It is “breaking unjust fetters, freeing the oppressed, sharing one’s bread with the hungry, clothing with the naked and home with the homeless, and not turning away from the needy relatives” (Is. 58:6-7).
Advantages of fasting: A - It reduces the excessive accumulation of fat in our soul in the form of evil tendencies and evil habits (=spiritual obesity).
B - It gives us additional moral and spiritual strength.
C - It offers us more time to be with God in prayer.
D - It encourages us to share our food and goods with the needy.
E - “There is joy in the salutary fasting and abstinence of Christians who eat and drink less in order that their minds may be clearer and more receptive to receive the sacred nourishment of God's word, which the whole Church announces and meditates upon in each day's liturgy throughout Lent” (Thomas Merton).
II - We are to lead a life of penance because:
1 - It is the model given by Jesus.
2 - It was his teaching: “If any one wishes to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” “Try to enter through the narrow gate.”
3 - Theological reasons: a) it removes the weakness left by sin in our souls, b) it pays the temporary debt caused by sin, and c) it makes our prayers more fruitful.
III - We are to enlarge our hearts for reconciliation.
By receiving the ashes, we confess that we are sinners in need of the mercy of God, and we ask forgiveness for the various ways in which we have hurt our brothers and sisters. In the recent past, our Catholic community has experienced acute suffering caused by the scandalous behavior of a few of our spiritual leaders. Lent is a time for forgiveness and reconciliation. Let us allow the spirit of forgiveness to work its healing influence in our parishes and families. God bless you.