Ash Wednesday, and indeed the whole season of Lent, is very much focused on matters of the heart. In fact, we could almost look at it as if it's a heart check-up. Yet, for this particular check-up we don't need any ECG's or stethoscopes or heart monitors. Rather, for this check-up we require the Scriptures, and some time set aside for prayer and for worship, and some discipline in our lives. After all, look at the matters of the heart that are raised simply in the three readings which we have heard this evening!

First, we heard and read and sang the words of Psalm 51. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (v. 11). Not only are we looking at our own hearts - we are inviting God to take a look, too - and to do something with our hearts! We are asking God to cleanse our hearts, and in doing so we recognize our own sinful human nature. We recognize that our hearts are always in need of cleansing. Yet, at the same time we are reminded that if our heart is broken or sorrowful or repentant, God sees our sorrow and responds with compassion and forgiveness (Ps. 51:18).

Meanwhile, in Joel we find a powerful image of repentance and sorrow. The people have strayed away from God, and they are being called to return to God and to repent and are told: "rend your hearts and not your clothing" (Joel 2:13). In those days people ripped their robe if they were sorrowful about something - not a small thing for people who often had only one or two robes! But Joel's message is, "Don't tear your clothes - tear your heart instead!" It brings us back to the image of a broken heart from Psalm 51. It asks us, Do you see what sin is doing in your life and in the lives of other people? Do you see what sin is doing in the world? Do you feel the sorrow that God feels, and the anguish that would bring God to sacrifice his only Son?

We are being invited to see things as God sees them and to allow our hearts to be united with the heart of God. We are also being asked where our heart really lies.

All through the gospel reading from Matthew, we hear about giving and prayer and fasting that come from the heart. Jesus is saying, These are all good things to do, but don't do it just to put on a good show. What matters to God is what is in our hearts, and when fasting and praying and charitable giving are done in order to impress others, it betrays us as more concerned about the opinion of others than we are about God.

No - Jesus very rightly says that our hearts will be where our treasure is (Mt. 6:21). If we treasure others' opinions, then we will be devoted to making ourselves look good. If we treasure material goods, then we will be devoted to getting as much as we can. If we treasure the gift of salvation that is ours through Jesus Christ, then we will be devoted to following him. This kind of devotion results in a heart filled with love - love for God and love for one another.

In fact, this is what we want to see during our heart check-up in this season of Lent. We are to ask ourselves, How is my heart? And where is my heart? And it is the things known as the "discipline of Lent" that help us to do this check-up - things like repentance and fasting and prayer and works of love. Whatever it is that we take on as our discipline during Lent, it should be something that turns our heart to Jesus.

I don't give up something for Lent just so that I can impress myself and others with what great self-control I have. Rather, I would give up something for Lent that represents a sacrifice on my part, and then I would turn my heart to Jesus every single time that I want to partake of whatever it is that I have given up. The reason for taking on such a discipline is to remind us of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Whatever we might do certainly pales in comparison, but it is a means of reminding us of Jesus and turning our hearts to him.

Today, as we embark upon our Lenten journey, may our prayer be the same as that of the psalmist: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Amen.

Ash Wednesday Psalm 51:1-18

March 1, 2006 Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

St. Luke's Zion Matt. 6:1-6, 16-21

Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore

? 2006 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved