Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation. 

2 Corinthians 6:2

 

     Invitations are wonderful.  Sometimes they come on fancy paper with embossed writing to join in a celebration at a certain time and place.  Sometimes they are merely a passing thought for a time in the future.  They all, however, are an offer to be in relationship with others.   Dinners, weddings, a walk, a cup of coffee with a friend all provide moments in time in which we can join with another to share our journey.  In our scripture today, we are invited by God to receive the grace that is freely given each and everyone of us.  The grace that will again remind us that we are indeed in a loving, supported, relationship with our Creator.  God wants us to claim, right now, the fact that we are indeed loved, forgiven, and transformed. 

     Today we receive ashes in the sign of the cross - a reminder that we are human and holy, just as Jesus was human and holy.  A reminder that the reconciliation with God has been completed, we need only accept it.  That's not an easy task for us.  We often feel that we need to earn God's grace or be someone different than we are to receive it.  This is simply not the case - God's grace is a gift, a pure gift.  

     Through this Lenten season let us say "yes" to God's invitation of reconcilitation.  Let us seek to find those pieces in our lives that stop us from accepting this gift of grace and sharing it with our world.  It is in acceptance that we will individually be transformed, which will then transform the world.

Prayer:  Creator God, you have made us human and holy.  As we begin our journey through Lent, help us to find all those parts of us that prevent us from accepting your grace, living this truth, and sharing it with the world.