Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Ash Wednesday Deviotional 2-25-09

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Ash Wednesday, February 25th
Luke 18:9-14

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'

Today's observance of Ash Wednesday throughout most of the western Christian world marks not only the beginning of the Lenten season but also reminds us of traditions which may go back even centuries before the Christian era. The ashes placed in the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the faithful have long symbolized to believers the spirit of repentance or confession -- even of mourning. And it is these sacrificial elements which many people even today associate with the 40-day period of Lent, from now until Easter - the Day of Resurrection.

And for nearly two thousand years many pilgrims in Jerusalem have themselves walked the very route which Jesus followed on his last day -- the via Dolorosa (the way of suffering) -- as their way of embracing the life of Christ. But while the old traditions may suffice in some quarters, the thought-realm of humankind continues to demand freshness and renewal in its quest for a more active or engaged spirituality.

Today's reading may be a case in point: The Pharisee and the tax collector had quite opposite views on gaining their own spiritual redemption: For the one, self-righteousness and judgmental indifference; for the other, an attitude of honest self-appraisal, or authenticity as we might call it. Perhaps then the decision for each one of us is how to truly embrace the life of Christ in our own Lenten journey; how to increase our level of spirituality, our ascending up to a greater Christlikeness. Pointless theological repetitions may have been OK for the Phrarisee, but not for us.

Then how about the example of the true humility and honesty of the tax-collector -- his active, living demonstration of the true qualities of his heavenly Parent? And what a way for us to begin our own Lenten period of spiritual growth and renewal. True humility and honesty, or authenticity, expressed to those around us for the next forty days -- and beyond! (More on this in tomorrow's devotional reading.)

Meditation: Creator, open my eyes so that I might see the many wonders which come to us each day from Your loving law! (Ps. 119) tr

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