Come Into The Word with Sarah Christmyer | Bible Study | Lectio Divina | Journals | Retreat

  • About
  • Blog
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact

ASH WEDNESDAY: It’s time to get clean

February 17, 2021 By Sarah Christmyer 5 Comments

(Traducción en español al final)

My son was the youngest and newest member of the local Peewee football league, and as such he sat warming the bench in his spanking-white uniform while his teammates slogged through the mud.  It was a cold and rainy day but the game was exciting, and we all cheered as the running back took the handoff and ran forward.  He dove through the line then came down, sliding head first through a puddle and bringing several players down on top of him.

The coach took the boy to the sidelines to assess his injuries, and the game went on.  My husband and I watched as our son got up and walked over to his friend.  We were so proud that he would take his eyes off the game to encourage a teammate.  What would he say?  The other parents leaned in, too, to hear:

“Man, your mom is going to be MAD when she sees that uniform.  That will never get clean!”

I thought of that as I read the Responsorial Psalm (51) for Ash Wednesday, Year B.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

By the start of Lent each year, I feel bruised and battered, grimy like that young football player.  I present myself for ashes feeling how appropriate they are, a sign of my weakness and failing.

ashesBUT GOD!  He’s not an unfeeling judge, to be angry that I’ve soiled my uniform.  He looks with compassion, calls me to himself.  “The Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people,” Joel tells us in the first reading.  “Return to me with your whole heart, 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….”

The second reading is from 2 Corinthians.  With St. Paul, I implore you:  be reconciled to God. Whatever guilt or shame or dirt clings to your soul, bring it to the One who can make you clean and new.  “For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”

Now, this Lent, is “a very acceptable time” to return to the One who loves you.

© 2015, 2021 Sarah Christmyer

This post was first published February 18, 2015, on this website.

 + + + + + + +

MIERCOLES DE CENIZA: es tiempo de limpiarse.

Por Sarah Christmyer (Traducción de Ana Lilia Galván de Tiscareño)

Mi hijo era el miembro mas joven y reciente del equipo local de la liga juvenil de futbol, y mientras calentaba en la banca en su impecable uniforme blanco sus compañeros de equipo sudaban en el lodo. Era un día frío y lluvioso pero el juego estaba muy emocionante, y todos echamos porras cuando el corredor tomó el pase y siguió corriendo. Pasó por la línea, luego se fue deslizando de cabeza por un charco llevándose a varios jugadores sobre él.

El entrenador se llevó al joven hacia un lado para revisar sus heridas y el juego continuó. Mi esposo y yo observábamos como nuestro hijo se levanto y fue hacia su amigo. Nos sentimos muy orgullosos al ver que apartaba sus ojos del juego para ir a animar a su compañero. ¿Qué le diría? Los otros padres también se acercaron para escuchar:

Oye, tu mamá se va a MOLESTAR cuando vea ese uniforme. Nunca se limpiara.

Pensé en eso esta mañana mientras iba a la Iglesia para recibir cenizas y orar con el Salmo del día (Salmo 50):

Misericordia, Dios mío, por tu bondad; por tu inmensa compasión borra mi culpa; lava de todo mi delito, limpia mi pecado.

Cada año al iniciar la Cuaresma, me siento lastimada y golpeada, sucia como aquel joven jugador de futbol. Voy a recibir cenizas sintiendo lo apropiado que son, un signo de mi debilidad y fracaso.

¡PERO DIOS! El no es un juez sin sentimientos, que se enoja porque he ensuciado mi uniforme. El mira con compasión, me llama hacia El. “Y Yahvéh se llenó de celo por su tierra, y tuvo piedad de su pueblo” nos dice Joel en la primera lectura. “Vuélvanse a mí de todo corazón, con ayunos, con lágrimas y llanto; enluten su corazón y no sus vestidos. Vuélvanse al Señor Dios nuestro, porque es compasivo y misericordioso…”

La segunda lectura es de la segunda Carta a los Corintios. Con San Pablo, les pido: reconcíliense con Dios. Cualquier culpa o vergüenza o impureza apegada a tu alma, tráela ante el único que te puede limpiar y hacer nuevo. “Dios lo hizo “pecado” por nosotros, para que, unidos a él, recibamos la salvación de Dios y nos volvamos justos y santos”.

Ahora, esta cuaresma 2015, es “un tiempo muy apropiado” para regresar con Aquel que te ama.

Filed Under: Holidays and Holy Days, Scripture Reflection Tagged With: Lent, Lent/Easter

Comments

  1. Carrie says

    February 18, 2015 at 9:11 am

    This is a beautiful meditation – thank you!

  2. Sarah Christmyer says

    February 18, 2015 at 9:38 am

    You are so welcome. May the Lord bless you this Lent!

  3. Arlita Winston says

    February 18, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    Beautiful picture of life! We run or “sit on the bench,” make goals, certainly compete, and tell others how to play. All the while our own FATHER is watching us, loves us, and is eager to clean us up! Thank you for this visual!

  4. Peggy says

    February 17, 2021 at 7:05 am

    I love how you use familiar stories to make the connection, says the mom of football playing sons.

  5. Mitch Carroll says

    February 17, 2021 at 10:08 am

    Love the white uniform analogy. So practical and so Relevant to my own experience with kids sports. Exactly what I needed to start this tough Lent with all the uncertainty with our world, epidemic, and chaos in our country and church. Time to focus as you say. Blessings and thx

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 characters available

Sarah Christmyer writes and speaks about Scripture and the Catholic faith with the goal of helping people meet Jesus in his Word. “The Bible isn’t just a book about God or instructions for a good life; it’s a place to meet God and be changed by him,” she says. Her love of Scripture fuels her writing of Bible studies and related books; her teaching of Philadelphia seminarians; her speaking at conferences and retreats; and writing for blogs such as this one. “Come Into the Word” draws people into the Bible and encourages and equips them to explore it on their own.

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

Search Come Into The Word

Categories

Recent Posts

  • TRUST IN GOD; HE’S GOT YOUR BACK
  • FINDING JOY AT CHRISTMAS
  • FOCUSING ON THE CHRIST CHILD with the O Antiphons
  • THANKSGIVING PSALMS: Drowning grief in gratitude
  • YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU: How to fill your heavenly “handbag”
  • RETURNING TO GOD…AND PRAYERS FOR UKRAINE

Archives

Recommended

  • Integrated Catholic Life – Catholic blogs and resources
  • Lux App and Lux University – online faith hub for women
  • Peter Kreeft – featured writings and audio
  • The Sacred Page (Michael Barber, John Bergsma, Brant Pitre, John Kincaid) – blog
  • Scripture Speaks (Gayle Somers) – commentary on the Mass readings
  • Speaking of Scripture (Mary Healy, Daniel Keating, Peter Williamson, et al) – blog
  • Women in the New Evangelization (WINE) – women’s ministry, book club, blog

 

We engage in affiliate marketing whereby we receive funds through clicks to our affiliate program through this website. This disclosure is intended to comply with the US Federal Trade Commission Rules on marketing and advertising, as well as any other legal requirements which may apply.

 

Let’s Connect

mailfacebook instagram pinterest

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

MENU

  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Home

Copyright © 2023 Come into the Word LLC | Site designed by Cynthia Oswald

  • About
  • Blog
    △
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    △
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    △
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact