LENT

Wednesday, 10 February 2016***

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:12-18

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14, 17

2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

SPIRITUAL WAR

“See now is the acceptable time; See now is the day of salvation!” – 2 Cor 6:2

In one winter day a man was travelling with his camel. When night came the man pitched his tent and slept inside. At midnight the camel called out asking the man allow it to just put its nose in the tent because it was freezing outside. The man allowed the camel to put only its nose.

After some time the camel asked to just put its head in the tent and promised not to bother the man again. The man allowed it. After an hour the camel asked to put just the neck and was allowed. After some time the front legs, and then the stomach.

The story ends with the camel having entered fully in the tent and eventually kicking the man out of the tent.

A sincere close examination of ourselves shows us that, just as the camel slowly entered the tent, SIN, evil has also slowly entered us. Sin, and addiction, bad habit has taken full control of the tent, of us. We are in a mess; we are dirty, broken and wounded. We are spiritually dead.

Today is a day we are invited to begin our Lenten period, the call is a call to fight, to wedge a war against Sin. This war is a spiritual warfare and the 2nd reading says today is the day the war begins and will last us 40 days – period of lent.

The battle we are fighting is a war of conversion, a war of change, a war of returning back to God. The Greek work for conversion is metanoia, – meaning a total, complete, thorough change of the whole person, mind-set, the heart, orientation, worldview, whole being. It is a complete, 360 degrees turning around.

It is a battle to reposes our tent, our innocence, our purity, our holiness. This is not easy because Satan, sin wants to remain in our tent. Are you ready to fight the camel out? Our opening today says:

 “Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.”

We are given 3 weapons:

Fasting – a voluntary self-denial in order to sharpen our appetite for the spiritual.

Prayer – personal encounter with God

Almsgiving – personal encounter with the poor.

Fasting helps us to tame/drill our bodies. There is no person who can overcome mortal sin, addictions and temptations without fasting. Fasting and other ascetic practices strengthen your will and spirit in the battle against the flesh. The prophet calls “Even now return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and tear your hearts…” (Joel 2:12).

As you receive the ashen cross, know that change is possible, your victory is at hand, God wants you to change, God wants you to come back. Take advantage of this day of repentance and renewal. Paul even cries out louder “We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2Cor 5:20).

Prayerfully read Psalm 51

Wishing you a fruitful day of fasting

#iAmKlassik #WyA

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