Loving God, you are gracious to all those who call upon you and add mercy to your justice.  Lead us into all truth this day – especially the truth of your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

            A long time ago, when I was still a seminary student, I was the driver for three other students as we traveled to the Ottawa valley to preach at four different congregations along the way.  I went to the church that was furthest away, having dropped off the others, and then I picked them up for the return trip.  As we drove along the Trans-Canada Highway near Ottawa, the weather turned to freezing rain.  Soon, we were watching vehicles in front of us literally just sliding off the road into the ditch.  At this point, it seemed good to turn off the main highway onto a gravel road that was slightly less of a skating rink.

         The sign on the highway had pointed to a small town named Calabogie.  After pulling over and consulting a map (yes - we used paper maps in those days), it looked like we should be able to turn left up ahead, go through Calabogie, and eventually come out to a main road again.  We headed west and seemed to travel on the gravel road for quite a while.  Eventually, it was seeming as though we had gone too far, having seen nothing telling us where to turn to get to Calabogie.  Pulling over once again, we consulted the map, found where we seemed to be, and turned around.  Coming from this direction, there was a road sign telling us where to turn, and we continued on our way.  When you know you have strayed, it’s time to turn around.

         King David knew that he had strayed.  When we hear Psalm 51 today, there is a clear admission of sin and guilt and a desire for cleansing.  David had committed adultery and murder, and the prophet Nathan had shone a light on what he had done.  David knew that he had strayed from God’s law, and Psalm 51 is an expression of repentance and a prayer for God’s forgiveness.  When you know you have strayed, it’s time to turn around.

         The prophet Joel, as prophets often do, is announcing God’s judgment upon the people.  The land has seen drought, and wildfires, and swarming locusts – all interpreted as curses because of the unfaithfulness of the Israelites.  It was part of God’s covenant with them – a covenant that included both blessings and curses (cf. Dt. 28).  The people had strayed, and God’s word through Joel is for them to turn around – to repent – to return to the Lord their God (Joel 2:13).

         Some, however, might not know that they have strayed.  These are the ones who blow their own horn when they give to the poor, and say long prayers on the street corners and in churches, and look miserable so that everybody will know that they are fasting.  They are trying to be faithful, and are proud of what they have done.  They give up something really difficult for Lent, and make sure that everybody around them knows how hard it is to do so.  They may not know that they have strayed, and so they don’t turn around.

         However, lest we be too hard on all of those hypocrites out there, Dr. Tony Campolo, a Baptist pastor, liked to tell people that the church is full of them (hypocrites, that is).  In his estimation, the Christian ideal is to know that you’re a hypocrite and then earnestly work at being less hypocritical (sundaysandseasons.com).  After all, when you know you have strayed, it’s time to turn around.

         Those of us who are here this evening are likely to be in many different places, when it comes to our relationship with God.  Some of us may have done better than others, and some of us might know for a fact that we are just as guilty as King David was.  However, the message is the same for all of us: “be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).  “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” (Joel 2:13).

         The focus on Ash Wednesday is squarely on self-examination and repentance.  There is a longer rite of confession than usual, and we are invited into the discipline of Lent.  It is perhaps the beginning of an extended reality check, as we acknowledge the twin realities of sin and death.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” proclaims Romans (3:23), and when it comes to life in this world – nobody gets out alive!

         Still – in the midst of the ashes – there are these little hints of Easter.  The ashen cross that we receive on our foreheads proclaims that we are both saint and sinner.  We are dust and will return to dust, yet we have also been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked by the cross of Christ forever in Holy Baptism.  Sin and death are not the end of the story.  And so, when we know that we have strayed, it is time to turn around.

         “Be reconciled to God… [for] now is the acceptable time… now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor. 5:20; 6:2).  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Ash Wednesday                              Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

March 5, 2025                                  Psalm 51:1-17

St. Francis Anglican Church          Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Pastor Lynne Hutchison                 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

© 2025 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved