Homily
for February 21, 2007
Liturgical Year C - Cycle I
Ash Wednesday
By Fr. John Carney Topic:
The Symbol of Repentance and Death
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I’m not sure
what the busiest day of the church year is. One would hope it would be
Easter. However, Christmas may be even busier than Easter because
Christians just don’t understand their faith. Again, I’m not sure what
the busiest day should be but I will tell you what busiest day is. It’s
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, which is not a Holy Day of
obligation. So, why are we here? As the people were passing on Canyon
Road this morning, they said, “What are those crazy Catholics doing?
It’s not even light yet and the parking lot is filled.” We’re here
because, well, most basically because of ashes, a symbol, a worthless
commodity, ashes and yet it brings us together today.
A symbol is something that represents something else by association,
often a material object that’s used to represent something invisible.
What is the invisible thing these ashes represent? Well, of course, it
is twofold: repentance and death. The ashes are an outward sign of an
inner repentance. It’s a very ancient symbol, repentance and ashes.
Centuries before Christ, when the Jewish people and people of other
religions as well, wanted to show repentance before God, they would put
on sackcloth, similar to burlap. It was very uncomfortable and ugly.
Then they would take ashes and just put them over their heads, and just
sit in a corner. Can you imagine? Can you imagine if you showed up at
work looking like that this morning instead of a little smudge on your
forehead?
Of course the sign is pretty good. The person was saying, “Oh, I’m bad.
I have sinned. I’m unworthy.” That is what the ashes represent. We
admit we are sinners and that we intend to do something about it. Many
people admit they are sinners but they forget that second part. To know
you are a sinner is the beginning but to do something about it is the
rest of the story. When you are marked, the minister may say, “Turn
away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”
The second meaning of the ashes of the symbol is that we shall die each
and every one of us. Now we know that intellectually but we have
trouble admitting it. Even people that are close to death, I’ve heard
saying, “If anything should happen…” What do you mean, “if anything?”
How often have you heard someone say, “Well, if I die…” Oh, you may
not? You know, it is a real thing this death and it can come at any
moment of any hour. Think of your own family, your own circle of
friends. Do you know anyone who died in their twenties or thirties in
an accident? Put your hand up please. Does anyone here not know anyone
who died in their twenties or thirties? Maybe a child hasn’t had that
experience yet. We don’t know when that day will come but it will come,
not “if” but when.
Therefore, you are dust and unto dust, you shall return. One day your
name and my name will be in those obituaries. We admit by our presence
here today that we need to change as we begin this penitential season
of Lent. I don’t know about you but I need it and I’m looking forward
to it. I hope each one of us can take each day of Lent and do something
good, so that we can be purified when Easter comes. The Church and the
scriptures recommend that we consider fasting, alms giving, and prayer.
You know we have 24-hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our
chapel here. The chapel is open 24/7. Be generous with your money. Help
those who are in need. There are two days of fasting the Church asks of
us. The only two days for fasting are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
The rule of fasting is only one meal. You may have two lesser meals not
to amount to one meal. You can gain weight on a Catholic fast. By the
way, if you are 59 or older, you don’t have to fast. What a wimpy
regulation! We can do better than that, I hope.
We begin this discipline of Lent and when you leave here today, marked
with these ashes of repentance, admitting your sinfulness and your
desire to change, God will go with you. He will answer your prayers and
then come Easter Sunday, may each one of us be beautiful and pure and
lovely in God’s eyes. Free of sin and reconciled to Him and His Church.