Ash Wednesday

Since we are already behind by a day, I thought I would give you the gospel text for yesterday and then add my two cents for whatever that's worth.  

Emilie Griffin (Small Surrenders, p. 4) quotes Thomas Merton today (and admittedly, I am quite partial to Thomas Merton to begin with). "We are not converted only once in our lives but many times, and this endless series of large and small conversion, inner revolutions, leads to our transformation in Christ."  The fact is they're right.  We may (or may not) have that one BIG moment where we can say "that's when Christ captured my heart" or "that's the moment I gave my life to Christ."  But becoming a disciple is a process, it is a journey.  We turn again and again to follow Christ.  If we ever get to the place where we think we've got it all figured out, we are getting it all right and we are done growing in our faith, then that is the place in which we really have a looooong way to go!

So what do we do; how do we make these small surrenders and take these steps of faith that grow us as disciples?  Is it really about giving up our favorite crutch for awhile, like chocolate, or social networking sites that otherwise occupy hours of our time?  Is it committing to daily prayer and Scripture?  Is it the giving up or giving in that makes us better disciples and more faithful Christians?

Perhaps Merton and Griffin are right... it is not so much the practice we choose or the discipline we adhere to (at least until we miss a day or two, get frustrated and give it up altogether...) It is not those things in and of themselves that transform us.  Rather it is the journey, the willingness to change and to be changed, it is the humility of realizing that it is as much about the journey as it is the destination.  After all, early Christians were not called Christians, but followers of The Way.  And so we are...

Luke 18:9-14

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."