Today is Ash Wednesday the beginning of the Season of Lent. During this season we are called to repent. When we receive ashes on our forehead the minister proclaims: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” This phrase is taken from the Gospel of Mark and is Jesus first words in Mark ‘s Gospel:
“After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14-15).
Jesus proclaims that God is at hand and God is doing something new. The gospel of God that Jesus is proclaiming is that God’s Kingdom is at hand especially in his words and actions. The rest of the Gospels will show us what Jesus means when he says that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The Kingdom is present, God is present, in a new and special way as Jesus welcomes outcasts and sinners, as he heals the sick and drives out demons and as he shows ways of humility, service and sacrifice.
Jesus calls us to respond to God’s initiative: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” The word “repent” in both Hebrew and Greek means “to turn.” So, Jesus’ invitation in Mark’s Gospel is the same invitation we hear as we receive our ashes: “Turn to God and put your faith and trust in God” or “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us to turn to God and to listen and focus on what God is saying to us. Jesus teaches that our “righteous deeds” of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are not done as a performance but are deeds that focus us on the two great commandments of love of God and love of neighbor.
During this season of Lent Jesus is inviting us and God is calling us to repent, to turn to him. Paul makes God’s plea his own in today’s second reading:
“Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
We pray today that we may receive this gift of God’s love, mercy, and reconciliation and be ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation:
“May he make your Church a sign of unity and an instrument of your peace among all people.” (Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation II).
Image: “Ash Wednesday Mass” by Catholic Church (England and Wales) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.