“I just can’t wait until we get back to normal, whatever that is!” That’s one of the refrains we have all heard so often over this past year as we continue to struggle through this coronavirus pandemic. We also hear comments about a new normal, where things will be different but we’ll get used to it. Wearing masks, bumping elbows rather than shaking hands, keeping a safe distance may all become the new normal and we’ll just have to adjust. It makes me think of the new normal that we all had to adjust to after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. They had first been blessed with the task of tending God’s lush garden, living easily from the abundant fruit of the land. But, after they sinned, life was no longer easy. They had to work for their food, child bearing would be painful and, they would die. But, they adjusted to it; it became their new normal.
Today’s first reading comes from a time when ancient Israel – the Promised Land that for so many years was a land flowing with milk and honey, as God had promised – was suffering from drought and a locust infestation. The prophet Joel called on the people to return to the Lord with fasting and weeping and mourning. “Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he. … Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing.” And the passage ends with a reassuring, “the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.” The locust swarm came to an end, the rains fell and the crops were abundant once again. Life returned to normal, although it was a new normal; droughts would now come and go and life was not as easy as it had been.
But, God wants us to experience a much better normal and a wonderful new normal. He doesn’t just want us to tend his garden, as he did when he created the first man. No, he wants us to dwell with him in his heavenly kingdom. But, in order to do that, we have to repent and believe in the gospel – that’s the meaning behind one of the two phrases we hear as we have ashes imposed on our heads. And, let me remind you of what we mentioned at all of the Masses this past Sunday. Following Archdiocesan guidelines – which reflect Vatican directives for this year – rather than tracing a cross on your forehead, we will sprinkle ashes on your head in silence. This follows the practice we see frequently in Sacred Scripture and is, in fact, the practice in many other parts of the world.
Every one of us will die – as we are reminded by the other admonition we hear on Ash Wednesday – “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return” – and we will spend eternity either in heaven or hell, depending on whether or not we repent and believe in the Gospel. Over the next forty days, as we learn from the Gospels – and, in fact, all readings at Mass – we are, once again, given the opportunity to recognize our sinfulness and need for repentance and to reflect on the saving power of our Lord’s death and resurrection. And so, I invite you to take seriously the call to give up something or do something. Give up some sleep so you can attend the 6:30am daily Mass. Give up some free time and spend it before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament on Monday. Give up being short-tempered with your spouse or children or co-worker. Give up your envy of others. Or, if you prefer, don’t give up something; do something. Try daily random acts of kindness. Spend more time in prayer or reading the Bible. Make the extra effort to visit your sick relative or friend.
There are two aspects of repentance, a “negative” aspect and a “positive” aspect. The “negative” or “taking away” aspect involves letting go of something. It usually is a vice or something excessive that keeps us from completely following our Lord. But, just as important as sacrificing a material good is sacrificing a spiritual ill, such as a sin, a fault or working on a particular defect like cursing, bickering or gossip. The positive aspect of repentance is turning toward God, making him truly the center of your life.
And, unless you have reached the perfection our Lord calls us to – perfect love of God and neighbor – you need to repent; we all do. Then, as we come to Holy Week, we will be able to join our Lord as he dies for us on the cross and rise with him to glory at Easter! And, when we turn to dust, heaven – the new and glorious normal for all the saints – will be our eternal destiny!