Ash Wednesday

This reflection was published as part of the Lenten Reflection Guide: A Jubilee of Hope.

Today’s readings call the community of believers to pious communal actions demonstrating penitence and prayer for God’s deliverance. The admonitions against hypocrisy indicate that it is not the actions that are criticized but the underlying motivation for doing them.

Almsgiving, prayer and fasting were traditional religious actions of pious Jews and these are commended. However, in an honor society the goal of these actions could be corrupted to seeking status and honor, by the public show of the actor.

The final verses of Chapter Six of Matthew say that the true purpose of such actions is to strive first for God’s reign in the world, and for God’s justice to guide human affairs.

These verses list three basic needs that all people have, for food, drink and clothing. But Jesus teaches: “Set your hearts on God’s kingdom first and on his justice and all these other things will be given you as well.” The verb used is “striving,” which demonstrates that it is not a passive attitude required but an active doing. They emanate from the heart’s orientation to strive to return structures and practices to their God-given role in care for the earth and promotion of what today we call the common good.

In this Holy Year one communal action we are all called to participate in is restoration of the ecological balance of the planet, which has been rendered askew by the industrial practices of the last two centuries. To a certain extent these practices have resulted in tremendous material progress, not only in the developed countries but even in formerly very poor countries. Poverty and hunger have been greatly reduced, millions of children are being educated, maternal and infant mortality have seen huge improvements, and international norms, policies and structures exist to try to prevent war—although these are not always followed. However, this progress has a serious shadow side, such as the threat of run-away global warming and climate change, as well as the harmful effects of the extraction of essential metals and the labor to do the extraction. Restoration and restitution are needed.

The areas of the world most impacted by climate change, referred to as the two-thirds world (derived from its previous designation as “third world”), are those countries located primarily in the southern hemisphere that are the least responsible for climate change but suffering the worst consequences. The United Nations refers to the rectification of this injustice as Loss and Damage, but we can also call it restitution for previous offenses, whether intentional or unintentional.

Pope Francis has linked restoration of the planet to debt forgiveness during this Jubilee Year, by stating:
 “The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world, so that this year may truly become a time of jubilation. A jubilee for our mother Earth, disfigured by profiteering; a time of jubilee for the poorer countries burdened beneath unfair debts.”

Pope Francis has frequently argued that such debt relief is a matter of justice, linking it to the “ecological debt” wealthy nations owe to poorer, less polluting countries.

We as individuals can participate in this global action by examining what we wear, what we eat, and how much fossil fuel energy we use. Do we buy too many inexpensive clothes that contribute to depletion of natural resources and exploitation of cheap labor? Do we eat inordinate amounts of beef and other meat items that contribute to global warming and other environmental problems? And are we able to perform a fossil fuel fast, by radically reducing the amount of gasoline we use in traveling from one place to another?

Jesus, echoing Amos, said that this is the fast that I want: ”to let justice flow like the water and integrity like an unfailing stream.”