Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20 – 6:2; Mt 6:1-6,16-18
One of the events that changed the course of human history is the Kalinga war, fought in 265 BC between Emperor Ashoka and the people of Kalinga. About 100,000 Kalinga civilians and 10,000 Mauryan soldiers were slain. The blood reddened river near Kalinga proclaimed
the intensity of the loss of human life. Mangled bodies of men, women and children lay scattered over the battle field. Pools of blood, widows crying over their slain husbands and the orphaned children arrested the attention of the emperor. He cast his eyes over the battle field and stood there contemplating over the transitory nature of human existence. He realized the great truth, " You are dust and to dust you will return."
Ash Wednesday reminds us of this great truth, the transitory nature of our existence. A poet expressed this sublime mystery in plain words
" As grass becomes green in spring time
So our hearts will open and give forth buds
And then they wither".
The realization of this mystery urges one to repent and amend ones ways. In the Old Testament we see a number of instances where God sent his prophets to the people to warn them of their evil ways and to remind them to return to God. People who accept this invitation to repent and who regret about their shortcomings will express their sorrow in various ways which differ from country to country. The Jews expressed their sorrow by tearing cloth and putting ashes on them. One of the manifestations of inner repentance was pouring ashes on one's body and dressing in sack cloth. "Having been rebuked by God Job confesses, "Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). Other examples of this practice are also found in the Book of Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel and so on.
In the New Testament Jesus alludes to this practice, "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you Bethsida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sack cloth and ashes."
Lent is a time to deplore our past through repentance and a time to start a new life. So the external manifestations must spring from internal spirit. All the penitential manifestations will remain meaningless if they remain peripheral. That is why prophet Joel summons the people to rent their hearts. He invites us to repent hoping that God will forgive us. But St Paul assures us that God longs to forgive us."
Along with fast and prayer there are also many ways of manifesting our Spirit of repentance. Giving more time to prayer, renouncing certain things which one can lawfully enjoy, helping ones' own brothers are also external manifestations of internal spirit of repentance. The little acts of charity and kindness that we are able to perform during this lent will proclaim the spirit of our repentance and attempts to transform our lives.
The ash smeared on our forehead must be a reminder though out the season of lent that we need a constant examination of our life and make it socially useful.