A Joyful Noise – Ash Wednesday – The
Beginning of Lent
“The joy of the gospel fills the hearts
and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation
are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy
is constantly born anew…. A joy ever new, a joy which is shared.” (Pope Francis
– Apostolic Exhortation – Evangelii
Gaudium)
For the next 40+ days we are going to
make a joyful noise with Pope Francis as our conductor. It is going to be the
joyful noise of the Gospel. Over the past eleven months Pope Francis has
inspired us, awed us, and challenged us to see life differently and to live
life differently. He has challenged us to see the world around us, not just our
comfortable world, but the whole world. He has promised us that if we do this
our hearts and our lives will be touched and filled with joy.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of
our journey through Lent. With the cross of ashes signed on our forehead we are
sent forth into the world reminded of our fragileness, our humanness, our
connection to the earth we stand on. We are reminded of our sinfulness, our
faults and failings. We are reminded that at the end of this life our fragile
bodies, these earthen vessels will return to their beginning the earth. Yet, as
St. Paul says, these earthen vessels hold something special, the gift of God’s
presence, they hold a joyful noise!
In the opening lines of Evangelii
Gaudium, the apostolic exhortation given us by Pope Francis last November he
tells us that joy fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. He
tells us that this joy is always new and it is a joy which needs to be shared.
So whatever you do this Lent to better yourself, perhaps you are giving up
something, perhaps you are doing something a little extra or different – no matter
what you are doing or not doing for Lent make sure that you share the joy of
your encounter with Jesus. Let it out, let it be heard, let it be seem!
Neil Diamond wrote a song many years ago
called “Beautiful Noise.” I am sure he had in mind music and not the Gospel and
Jesus but if you read the words or perhaps listen to the song I think you will
find a connection between the beautiful noise of music and the Joyful Noise of
the Gospel.
So take some time to read the lyrics of
the song below and let it become our theme song for Lent and let us remember
that we are dust and to dust we will return. Let us repent and believe in the
Gospel but most importantly this Lent let us make a Joyful Noise!
Happy Ash Wednesday everyone and have a
great Lent!
"Beautiful Noise" by Neil Diamond
What a beautiful noise
Comin' up from the street
It's got a beautiful sound
It's got a beautiful beat
It's a beautiful noise
Goin' on ev'rywhere
Like the clickety-clack
Of a train on a track
It's got rhythm to spare
It's a beautiful noise
And it's a sound that I love
And it fits me as well
As a hand in a glove
Yes it does, yes it does
What a beautiful noise
Comin' up from the park
It's the song of the kids
And it plays until dark
It's the song of the cars
On their furious flights
But there's even romance
In the way that they dance
To the beat of the lights
It's a beautiful noise
And it's a sound that I love
And it makes me feel good
Like a hand in a glove
Yes it does, yes it does
What a beautiful noise
It's a beautiful noise
Made of joy and of strife
Like a symphony played
By the passing parade
It's the music of life
It's a beautiful noise
And it's a sound that I love
And it makes me feel good
Just like a hand in a glove
Yes it does, yes it does
What a beautiful noise
Comin' into my room
And it's beggin' for me
Just to give it a tune
Daily Lenten Prayer: Loving God, we
come to you today on this Ash Wednesday to begin our journey of Joyful Noise.
We are reminded by the cross of ashes on our forehead that we are dust and to
dust we will return. We are reminded that we need to repent and be faithful to
the joy of the Gospel. Give us the strength today and always to seek out Jesus
so that our hearts and lives will always be filled with Gospel joy! If is a beautiful
noise so Loving God give it a tune and we will make it a Joyful Noise! Amen!
Runner’s Thoughts: “It's important
to know that at the end of the day it's not the medals you remember. What you
remember is the process – what you learn about yourself by challenging
yourself, the experiences you share with other people, the honesty the training
demands – those are things nobody can take away from you whether you finish
twelfth or you're an Olympic Champion.” (Silken Laumann)
Daily Blessing: Happy Ash
Wednesday everyone – welcome to Lent! I hope you will take the time each day to
journey with me through Lent making a Joyful Noise with the help of Pope
Francis.
I hope you will find the time today to
say a little prayer and to be signed by the cross of ashes that will send you
on your own journey of Lent.
My prayer of blessing today comes from
the liturgy itself – I pray that God blesses us all with the wisdom to know
just how fragile we are that we came from dust and it is to dust that our
bodies will return. I pray for God’s blessing of strength that we can turn away
from the things that lead us away from God and that we can be faithful to the
Gospel. I pray that this Lent and always our hearts can be filled with the
Joyful Noise of the Gospel. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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