Lent – A Time of Revamping Journey

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Ash Wednesday,

Joel 2: 12-18; 2 Corth 5: 20-6:2; Matt 6: 1-6, 16-18.

Lent – Time of Revamping Journey

Today, on Ash Wednesday, we step into the sacred season of Lent. Ashes are traced upon our foreheads. It’s a quiet yet a profonde reminder of who are, and where we came from and where do we return to. The green palms swayed in celebration once, have now withered, burned and reduced to dust. What was once great now lies as ashes. In this simple sign, we see the fact of our own lives; fame and fragility, life and death - Everything we hold dear is a fleeting thing. Ashes do not speak, they do not accuse but they quietly confess who we are and who God is. They tell us that life is fragile. Achievements fade, applauds disappear.

Today’s readings reveal to us a God who is in search of human beings, a God who meets human beings with mercy, who meets the dust with compassion. God does not command from heaven, but he pleads ‘return to me with all you heart.’ God does not ask for achievements and certificates but welcomes home as we are. God does not expect explanations, instead just wants us back home. Rightly so, Lenten season is not about doing more and sacrificing plenty but letting one be at home.

Biblically, ‘ the word return (in Hebrew shub - שׁוב ) ’ is not about feeling sorry or guilty, but means ‘turning around, reorienting, a motion back in the direction of point of departure, coming back to the root.’ In other words, Lent is an invitation to a journey, a journey towards fullness, wholeness and abundance. It is a time to journey back home, it’s a time of home coming. Lent is not running outside of us but walking towards oneself. I call it ‘a revamping journey’ because when we motion in the direction of home, we need to clear the path .

God invites us to rent our hearts and not our garments (Joel 2: 12-18). Biblically, tearing once garment was an external expression of mourning. Therefore, God insists that external signs without interior conversion are futile. God is not moved by religious drama. He desires a heart broken. Because God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger and rich in kindness. So, we are called to repent not because God is tough but because God is good.

St. Paul implores that ‘now’ is the time for this inward journey (2 Corth 5: 20-6:2). Paul is aware that procrastination is the enemy of conversion/reconciliation. Reconciliation presupposes broken relationship. Biblically, sin is alienation from God, oneself and others. Therefore, ‘now’ is the time for this revamping journey.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus suggest ‘Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving’ as aids for this revamping journey. A Person is a combination of oneself, others, God and Nature. Prayer fuels the journey towards God. Fasting acerates the journey towards oneself and Almsgiving sustain the journey towards others. Jesus warns against the religious drama, activities performed to be seen. They are fleeting and empty. Intending Lenten activities to be noticed, rather than personal transformation are futile. Ashes on forehead, would mean nothing if heart is untouched.

Our Takeaway

1. Lent is not about doing more and sacrificing plenty but letting one be at home.

2. Lent – a time of revamping journey, as we motion back, we need to clear the path we walked. We repent not because God is tough but because God is good.

3. Prayer fuels the journey towards God. Fasting accelerates the journey towards oneself, and Almsgiving sustains the journey towards others.