One of the frequent themes we hear throughout the Christmas season is “Come Home For Christmas.” Sadly, we pack that invitation away in January with all our other Christmas decorations only to revisit it come next Advent. From the first day of Lent—Ash Wednesday—the selection of daily readings for Lent makes God’s call to us quite clear: “Return to me with your whole heart.”
“Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.” (Joel 2: 12-18) As we come forward to receive those ashes of repentance, our acceptance of this invitation can be so simple and yet so complex. Where do I begin? We have already focused our attention on this road to conversion; the fear of the unknown is gone; it is only for us to return to our homes and workplaces with our renewed heart and begin to live this season of penance.
Pope John Paul II in 1979 wrote (The Light of Christ)"Penance is not just an effort, a weight, but it is also a joy. Sometimes it is a great joy of the human spirit, a delight that other sources cannot bring forth. Contemporary man seems to have lost, to some extent, the flavor of this joy. … The whole period of Lent since it is a preparation for Easter is a systematic call to this joy that comes from the effort of patiently finding oneself again. Let no one be afraid to undertake this effort."
“Come back to me, with all of your heart.” May Our Lord grant us all the graces we need and desire this Lent.