Surrender Your Heart: Ash Wednesday Reflection

Joel 2:12-18
Psalm 51
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Every Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. In the days leading up to Day 1 of Lent, we have seen memes on one’s newsfeed about getting one’s “Ash to Church”. Recently, I posted something of a meme that compares someone going to Mass every Sunday and the majority only going to Mass on Ash Wednesday to receive their ashes.

Now and then, I look on the page to see how well my post did, and someone would comment that he goes to Mass every Sunday. Then, I see a comment of being accused of virtue signaling. Sometimes I wonder how accusatory one can be. My intentions are good as I want to remind people who want to receive ashes, to mark Lent, should consider seeking Jesus more by going to Mass every week.

St. Maximilian Kolbe reminds us that Lent is a “Time of grace, a time for conversion, a time to come home to God.” This Polish martyr wants to understand that the season of Lent is a time to get our spiritual home in order.

When one thinks of conversion, it may be switching sides. We all must make a conversion daily. We let our lord into our hearts to be with us. He wants us to emulate him in every word, deed, and action towards our enemies and neighbors.

We all have something to sacrifice for the next 40 Days, all because we want to grow in holiness. When we detach ourselves from worldly comfort, we become a better version of ourselves. We begin to attach ourselves more to what is to come after our earthly pilgrimage is over.

Let us step up our prayer by praying for others, let us detach from worldly pleasures and distractions in our spiritual lives, and let us remember those in need with our alms. God wants your heart. Surrender it to him. Surrender all the things that are keeping you from walking in his ways.

Repent and Believe in the Gospel