Ash Wednesday 2025

Homily Ash Wednesday 2025.

There is a story of two monks traveling together. One was old and the other was quite young. Along the way they came across a young woman quite scantily dressed, perhaps now returning from a Carnival fete., trying to cross a stream.

The older monk, without hesitation, approached the woman, and took her on his back and crossed the stream. The younger monk was shocked to say the least. After all, they had taken a vow of celibacy and avoid contact with members of the opposite sex. And here his senior did something that was contrary to all they believed in.

Needless to say, he was very upset for the rest of the journey. when he could take it no longer, he asked his senior how could he do something like that.

To which he replied, He carried the young woman from one side of the stream to the next, while his younger friend carried her for most of their journey .

Today the Christian community begins the sacred journey of Lent. It begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days until Easter. It is a very special time for us. It is a time when we take a closer look at lives. A time when we do a deep examination of conscience and seek forgiveness and pardon for any indiscretion we may have committed. It is a time unburden ourselves of the things we have done and the things we have failed to do.

In the first reading, the prophet Joel starts out by saying, _ It is the Lord who speaks..… Come back to me with all your heart. All your heart. Not halfway, not lukewarm, but with all your heart. For he is all tenderness and compassion. ——————

While we journey as a community, the journey is really a personal one. you are not called to point out the sins of your neighbour, that is between him and God. As in the case of the two monks.You just have to deal with yourself and the areas of your life that is keeping you apart from God.

Former Chief magistrate, Patrick Jaggessar, had a powerful testimony which he shared. After his conviction for taking a bribe, people would see him on the streets and remonstrate with him, saying Patrick look at you now. You like money so much. It good for you.

He said he had to agree. His love for money had caused him to bring shame on himself and his family. But one of things he also shared, was that while his sin/weakness was plain for all to see, the same ones who were quick to point out his weakness were not blameless. Did they think that their sins were less