Psalm : 32

Epistle : Gal. 2:15-21

Gospel : Lk. 9:23-27

Verse for meditation:

 

“Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk.9:23).

 

Ash Wednesday

Ash is seen as a symbol of repentance, restitution and sadness (Job. 42:3-6, Dan. 9:3, Jer. 6:26, Num. 19:9,17, Jona 3:6, Matt. 11:21, Lk. 10:13, Heb. 9:13, Ez. 9). In the apocryphal books also this concept is found (1 Macc. 3:47, 4:39). Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent. Taking the fasting of Jesus for forty days as model, the forty days before Easter has been set apart for fasting and prayer. Since the six Sundays during this season is considered as Sabbath, those days are not counted along with the forty days of fasting. On this day the palm leaves used during the previous year’s Palm Sunday has been burnt and the ash has been taken to mark the symbol of the cross on the forehead. As the priest is drawing this symbol he will recite the verses of Gen. 3:19 and Mk. 1:15. These verses remind people about death and repentance. In Ireland this day is observed as ‘a day against tobacco’. The main message of the Lenten season is to avoid expensive life styles. In the UK the day against tobacco was started on an Ash Wednesday. Today, this is observed on the second Wednesday of the month of March. In the lent that starts from today non-vegetarian food and wine are avoided and much time is set apart for prayer and repentance. Christian spirituality is a spirituality of self denial and self sacrifice. Jesus most frequently calls for ‘self denial’. Jesus called his disciples also to carry the cross along with him (Lk. 14:26-33). Christian spirituality requires of one to examine the self becoming a true disciple of Christ before engaging in leadership. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. ‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not be able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish’. ‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you, who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple’” (Lk. 14:26-33).  

1. Self Denial which brings repentance (Joel 2:12-20)

  Joel calls the people for repentance with the following words, “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God…” (Joel 2:13). Repentance become complete when we are ready to undergo self denial. Jesus taught the disciples to fall on the ground and be broken as wheat and to sprout out to yield much fruit “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it reminds only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (Jn. 12:24). To the disciples who came to Jesus with the request to increase their faith he answered as follows, “The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith!. He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you’. Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink? Would he thank the servant, because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty” (Lk. 17:5-10). Jesus asked them to become anything and submit like a servant. After accomplishing what they are supposed to do they are asked to say “unworthy servants, we have done what we are ought to do”. The apostle who decided to obey this commandment submitted themselves to live according to their decision. St. Paul says, “We are always submitted to death” (2 Cor. 4:8-12).

2. Self denial – Living in Christ (Gal. 2:15-21)

“I have been crucified with Christ and I know longer live, but Christ lives in me…” (Gal 2:20).  The above said reference gives the idea that through self denial Christ is beginning to live within us.  In the Indian religions asceticism (sanyasam) is an important advice. The highest form of sanyasam is found in the teachings of Jesus in the spirituality of self denial. In the Indian religions the Upanishads have an important place. One among which is called Sanyaso Upanishad.  It has 123 stanzas. The 17^th stanza talks about four types of Sanyasin – Vairagya sanyasi, Njana Sanyasi, Njana Vairagya Sanyasi and Karma Sanyasi. Among these the karma sanyasi takes up the position of sanyasi after observing the three stages of Brahmacharyam, Grahasthyam and Vanaprastham. All others enter into the position of sanyasi without going through this procedure. Self denial is taught as the highest farm of spirituality. The fourth chapter of Bhagavathgeetha also teaches also about njana karma sanyasa yoga. No one will become a sanyasi if he is not doing his duty (karma). Including the Christian Church there are thousands of sanyasis in all religions. But the teaching of Geetha is very appropriate at this age. The spirituality of sanyasam is not living carelessly, dispassionate away from the society in solitude. They should give the touch of ‘goodness’ for others, for the society and for God. In the words of Jesus they are those ‘who bear much fruit’. When broken down the self it will result in producing much fruit. The spirituality of sanyasam is not entangled with any disappointment and then call it as vidhi to take up sanyasam. They realize that the world is maya. There should emerge people who will deny their self, leaving love for world, name, fame, wealth, desires and competition to be filled with the love of Christ to wipe out the tears and support the poor, cry along with those who cry. Today, those who help others and love others are venerated to the level of ‘god men’. Gradually people are compelled to worship them. These ‘god men’ accept this type of worships. This is not the work of the spirit. These people have the satanic spirit which says ‘worship me I will give all these to you’. But God alone is worthy of worship. Even in India there are many Hindu great men and gurus who never accepted any worship. Mahathma Gandhi is one of the examples. Therefore, to say that all the gurus of India demand and are being worshiped is not spirituality.  

3. Self Denial to become a disciple (Lk. 9:23-27)

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” (Lk. 9:24). This is the teaching of Jesus regarding self denial. When we are broken and accept self denial we should search that weather it is useful to anyone. Jesus said, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl” (Matt. 5:15). Let us read this parable very carefully. “… A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14b – 16). Your light should shine before men. It should be useful for others. It should burn, burn and finish off like Jesus Christ. Centuries have passed as the Christian Church has started to observe sanyasam. The Catholic Church initiated this movement. The Syrian Church and the Protestant Churches of the 14^th century also followed suit, though initially they were not in favor. In the year 1601 the foreign missionary Robert De Nobli continued his ministry in Tamil Nadu, adopting the life style of a Hindu Sanyasi. Though he was not accepted at that time, people like Sadhu Sunder Singh adopted such methodology for ministry. Sanyasam is not a new concept in Christian spirituality. But the specialty of sanyasam is as defined earlier – ‘the experience of giving much fruit’. When one submits himself to be broken with self denial only he can glow for the Lord and inspire others to glow. Only such people will offer powerful prayers. The kingdom of God will be established through such people – those who take up the cross and follow Jesus through dedication.

Collect:   

  God of life, you have called us to be your beloved children even when we are unworthy. We have forgotten that it is not we but you are living in us. Jesus has taken the form of servant hood to save us without thinking of sitting equal with God. But our human illusions and aspirations have made us self centered rather than Christ centered. Lord grant us the wisdom to take up the cross and follow your son Jesus through self denial. We pray this prayer in and through Jesus Christ who lives with you and the Holy Spirit for ever more, world with out end.  

Amen!