Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. For many Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, it is a time of preparation for Holy Week and renewal of the promises of Baptism; it is also a time of intense prayer and preparation for those who will be baptized and received into the Church at the Easter Vigil. The readings today call us to pray, fast, and give alms as good ways to engage in this time of renewal and preparation.

These are, indeed, important spiritual practices; I find it spiritually beneficial to consider not only these practices, but engaging in them as Jesus directs. However, as I reflected on the readings for Ash Wednesday, I was continually drawn to the idea that God "was stirred to concern" (Joel 2: 18). The context seems to be a series of misfortunes that lead to a bad harvest. It is easy for me to see how God’s concern is stirred by the effects of these calamities: children unable to grow and thrive for lack of nourishment; farmers and agricultural workers who depend on the rains for their livelihood are left not only without food, but without needed income; the entire community anxiously concerned as the specter of famine seems to lurk. My own heart is stirred when I see these kinds of circumstances, so it makes “religious sense” that God would be stirred when these things happen.

As I read the news each day, which is filled with stories of war, famine and disaster of different kinds, my heart and mind are stirred. When I hear the stories of parishioners who struggle with personal tragedy and loss, my heart and mind are indeed stirred. If I’m honest, as I reflect on these stories, I realize that I am sometimes stirred to darkness. At other times, I notice that I may be stirred to skepticism—is it really good to give a handout to a man begging on the side of the road?—or legalism—maybe this person is having trouble because they don’t follow society’s rules. I’ve heard others speak of being stirred to religious and spiritual doubt, as well as despair by the senseless violence and tragedies we see and experience.

As I consider Joel’s observation that God was “stirred to concern” I wonder how God regards our world today. I sense that God is still stirred to concern, not only for those who suffer, but for everyone, and for creation! I sense, too, that God invites me to experience a “stirring”, which leads not to anxiety, darkness and despair, but to faith, hope and charity. The call I sense is to allow my mind and soul to be “stirred” not only by the news, but by the grace of God, and to follow that stirring into deeper prayer, loving action and fervent faith.

May God bless us as we begin our annual observance of Lent, and may our hearts be stirred by the needs of our world and the grace of our loving God!