Homily for Ash Wednesday
March 6, 2025
A New Heart
A man
went to his doctor with some pain in his chest. The doctor ran some tests, and
then told the man, “I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that you
need a new heart – open-heart surgery, the whole nine yards. If you keep your
current heart, you will certainly die very soon. The good news is that we
already have a donor, your insurance will cover the cost, and it will let you
live until practically forever.”
Anyone
with a small modicum of common sense would say, “Yes! Let’s do the surgery!”
But perhaps there would be some who say, “Wait – I kinda like my current heart,
it’s not causing me too much pain, and it seems like a huge hassle to get the
surgery and have to recover. Maybe later, not now, I’ve got too much going on.”
We would all agree that such an attitude would be foolish!
And yet,
my friends, this should be the reason why we are here today – a new
heart. If you’re just here for ashes, that’s like taking aspirin when you need
a heart transplant – it might take away the pain for a bit, but it doesn’t
address the fact that you’re dying. Ashes might make us feel all
“religiousy” for a day, but it doesn’t take away the fact that you’re dying
from your sins!
But the
good news is that we have a donor who will give you a new heart – Jesus Christ,
Whose Sacred Heart burns away the impurities in ours. The cost is already
covered – it was paid by the Precious Blood on the Cross. This new heart will
allow us to live forever – an abundant like of grace and purpose here, and
everlasting joy in Heaven.
This
means that we have to give up our old heart, our sinful habits, our disordered
desires, our unhealthy relationships. It’s hard to do – and it’s the only thing
that will save our lives. In Greek the word for “repentance” is metanoia,
which literally means “turning-around”. Turning away from sin, turning to face
the Lord’s presence.
The
biggest, and most fundamental turning that must occur is to stop living as if
God doesn’t exist. Probably all of us would say that we believed in God – but
then, practically, we live as if He has no impact on our day-to-day life. We
make ourselves – our plans, our “truth”, our pleasures – the idol that we
worship.
Today,
turn away from that idol and begin living like God not only exists but has
loved you into existence, has a wonderful plan for your holiness, and has
destined you for eternal life! Practically this means beginning a serious
prayer life of at least 15 minutes daily; worshiping God every Sunday at Mass;
coming to Confession at least once during Lent; and conforming your life to His
teachings in the Scriptures and the Catholic Church.
Ashes on
your forehead are easy. They cost nothing. They may even make you feel good and
pious for a day. But they are like aspirin when we need major heart surgery.
The good news is that the new heart awaits you, given to you by Jesus Christ
Who purchased it on the Cross. My friends, I beg you – stop living as if God
does not exist. He exists and wants to be the central love of your life,
the very reason why you live and breathe. Get rid of your dying, sin-laden
heart, and allow Him to give you this new heart!
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