3-4-25 “A Heart Turned Toward God”
“A Heart Turned Toward God”
Yesterday, I took out palm leaves that we had kept from last year’s Palm Sunday and made ashes with them. I remember how fresh and beautiful the palm leaves were, but over time, they dried and crumbled into ashes. As I set fire to them, a Scripture verse came to mind:
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Yes, everything turns to dust, including human life, but the Word of God endures forever.
Tonight, we gather at the beginning of Lent—a season of repentance, reflection, and renewal. We come with ashes, a symbol of our mortality, a sign of our repentance, and a reminder of our dependence on God. We cannot live without God’s grace, not even for a moment.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus challenges us to examine our motives in practicing faith:
- Do we seek God’s approval, or do we hope to be noticed by others?
- Are we storing up treasures in heaven, or are we clinging to things that fade away?
In the Christian liturgical calendar, two seasons are represented by the color purple—Advent and Lent. Purple symbolizes a season of reflection, humility, and spiritual preparation. It is a royal color, signifying kingship. Yet, at the same time, purple is also a powerful color of sorrow and hope—it calls us to repentance while pointing us toward God’s grace and the promise of new life.
As you may know, Advent is the season of waiting for Christ’s coming—the beginning of the Christian journey each year. It is a time of repentance, renewal, waiting, hope, and expectation for a new day and a new year. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions, reflecting on the past year and preparing for what lies ahead.
However, as we enter the Lenten season, we often find ourselves breaking those resolutions. Is it only me? God knows our hearts, minds, and souls. And yet, God, in His mercy, gives us a second chance—to repent, renew, wait, and hope again.
Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter, is a call to self-examination and repentance. During this season, purple represents Jesus’ suffering and passion, reminding us of His journey to the cross. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent—a 40-day season (excluding Sundays) that leads us to Holy Saturday. The word “Lent” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “lencten,” meaning “spring.” It is a time of spiritual preparation for celebrating Easter. Many Christians fast or give up something as a way to repent and renew their spirit.
What About Fat Tuesday? Is it appropriate for Christians? Fat Tuesday is traditionally a day of indulgence—the last chance to enjoy food and festivities before the 40-day fast of Lent. Historically, it has been a day of feasting, celebration, and sometimes excess. But as Christians, we are reminded that true joy is found not in indulgence but in surrendering our hearts to God.
On Ash Wednesday, we come before God with repentant hearts. The word repentance comes from the Greek word “metanoia,” meaning a change of mind or heart. Biblically, repentance is more than feeling sorry for wrongdoing—it involves turning away from sin and turning toward God. In other words, the Ash service calls us to stop harmful habits, reconcile with God, and seek restoration with others.
Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” The Pharisees loved to make a public display of their fasting, prayers, and giving. But their goal was not true devotion—it was human praise. Jesus reminds us that faith is not about performance but about relationship.
The Ash service calls us to authentic faith—one that is deeply personal and rooted in God’s presence.
- When we give, we do so in secret.
- When we pray, we enter a quiet place and speak to God.
- When we fast, we do so with a heart turned toward God—not to impress others, but to be transformed.
Jesus teaches that the true reward of faith is found in the quiet places—where only God sees.
Lent is a season of seeking God in the secret place. It is a time to declutter our souls, silence distractions, and cultivate intimacy with Christ.
Jesus concludes with a question that cuts to the heart: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
What do we treasure most? If our hearts are set on status, possessions, or human approval, we will always be restless. But if we treasure God’s kingdom—justice, mercy, and love—our hearts will find true peace.
Lent invites us to reorient our hearts toward eternal things. It calls us to store up treasures in heaven through acts of love, justice, and faithfulness.
As We Receive the Ashes Tonight, We Remember:
- We are dust, and to dust we shall return.
- We are sinners in need of grace.
- We are called to turn our hearts fully toward God.
Let this Lent be a season of deep transformation—not seeking the world’s approval, but drawing near to the presence of our Savior. May our fasting, praying, and giving be done not for show, but as a true offering of love to God. Let us return to the Lord with all our hearts.
Thanks be to God. Amen!