The churches were crowded yesterday for Ash Wednesday. Even a lot of Protestant churches who usually don’t make a big deal about Lent and Ash Wednesday are starting to establish traditions for this holy season. (And I can say that honestly having grown up Protestant myself – in the Methodist Church and in the United Church of Christ.) Yet, it is not about getting that smudge of ash on our foreheads in public that matters. It is about what we do about our Lenten journey, how we meet God in that reality. The Catholic faithful are really wanting to make something of their Lenten journey, to have it influence their overall journey of faith.
Jesus tells us today in Luke’s Gospel to deny ourselves and to take up our cross if we want to follow him. We gave out these little magnifying glasses yesterday on Ash Wednesday as a symbol and reminder of how we are to seek God in all things in our lives. In the egoism, narcissism, and self-centeredness of our modern world, many wouldn’t think that they would find fulfillment or salvation in denying themselves and taking up a cross, but that is what exactly Jesus wants us to do. That is one of the places we are to seek God. So, as we are still in the beginning days of our Lenten journey, let us really think about where we are to seek God on our Lenten journey. And let us try to recognize the cross that we are called to carry as a part of our Lenten as well. Some of what we will find might surprise us.
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