Journey's Weekly Homilies

Feb. 13     
Ash Wednesday 
Homily by Sam

JOEL 2:12-18
II CORINTHIANS 5:20-6:2
MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-18

‘SENZENI NA’

Senzeni na.  Sono sethu.  What have we done?  What is our sin?  This protest song from South Africa evokes a swirl of images for me.  And it changes my understanding of fasting, penitence, and almsgiving.  And now Lent looks different to me. 

Mostly it reminds me of Jamal.  Jamal was born in central Africa.  As a teenager he saw the movie ‘Gandhi’, as many of us did.  But he did something about it.  He studied Gandhi’s writings and began training people to practice non-violent confrontation of their country’s repressive government.  When Jamal began to publicize the government’s murder of civilians he became a target himself.  When a friend of his was killed Jamal fled to the United States, where he hoped he could find a safe home.  What have I done?  What is my sin? 

Jamal, a college graduate, began a series of low wage jobs here in Portland and worked to reunite his family.  Last spring he was stopped in his car by two police officers who thrust guns into his face.  He showed them his certificate of registration for the car, even had them call the dealer who sold him the car.  The police still handcuffed him and kept him overnight in jail on suspicion of stealing a 1980 Datson.  Meanwhile our Governor last week said that racial profiling in Oregon is mainly a matter of public perception.

What have I done?  What is my sin?  We will sing this throughout Lent not to examine our consciences, not to confess our guilt.  We sing it with Jamal and millions of others to proclaim innocence and protest injustice in our world.  We ask for God’s assistance as we advocate for them.

Our readings today urge us to begin traditional practices of Lent:  fasting, prayer, and assistance to the poor.  In the ancient world these communicated shock and outrage over a grave social injustice.  It was believed that God would be embarrassed by an exaggerated demonstration of misery and quickly intervene to correct the situation.

And so today we begin our Lenten observance with ashes, a symbol of our distress over injustice in the world and a sign of solidarity with the victims.  This sign must be the beginning of a personal observance for each of us.  One of us is advocating for an innocent man who has been convicted of attempted murder. Some of us are starting a prayer group.  Others are reading a socio-political biography of Jesus. I will engage in study and discussion of web-site news reports on refugees.  What sign of distress and desire for healing will you offer to God?  How will you rise from the ashes you receive today?

Throughout Lent we will discuss the Gospel readings beginning with Jesus’ temptation in the desert followed by his transfiguration before his followers.  We will then come to understand in a new way what faith in Jesus entails through three stories: the woman at the well, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus.  Each of these stories will lead us more deeply into  relationship with a God who identifies completely with victims of injustice like Jamal.

Our Lenten observance may be summarized by Proverbs 13:12:  ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but a wish fulfilled is a tree of life.’  We begin today in mourning over hope deferred for millions of people and we plead for God’s mercy and justice singing with them, ‘What have we done, what is our sin?’