This is just the beginning of Lent 2021. The first day with ashes on our heads. So, let's start this journey filled with pain and sorrow, but also with repentance and hope. This is not a journey of destruction. It is a journey to be saved in the wounds of Jesus Christ.
I believe you have looked in the mirror today. You have seen your face. For years you have seen this face changing, getting older, losing youth and vigor. And this is only skin, with muscles, blood vessels, teeth, and hair. It is slowly going down. So, you take care of it. You wash your face, you use sun screen, many other lotions just to keep it healthy.
What about your soul? You cannot see it in a mirror, but it is changing. When was the last time you looked at your soul? We are always so focused on the visible things that we forget about our invisible part. In what condition is your soul?
People often think they have time for repentance. There are many other things that they have to take care of right now. Unfortunately, they do not see that there is no time. Things are changing and passing by and one day our life will be over. So often we spend so much time trying to keep this world that we do not notice when our casket is being closed.
Look in the mirror of truth to really see how your soul is. Evil is very clever and can easily convince us that everything is ok. We're like other people so there is nothing wrong. Unfortunately, this is another lie given to us by Satan. Look in the mirror of Commandments, make deep reflection based on it. Do not get fooled by a smiling face. It is only one very short step to turn this face into tears.
Ash Wednesday reminds us about the reality of our existence - we came from ashes and we will return to ashes. The face in the mirror will one day be gone, but the soul will still be alive. The only way to save this soul is to follow God who is always ready to help those who come to him. True repentance is not dumping sins because they are heavy. True repentance makes you free from the old faults. It removes the dirt of sin that stuck so badly, that every single piece of it causes a spiritual challenge, but it has to be done.