Matters of the Heart
“Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow; tear your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive.” - Joel 2:12-13 CEB - I am not sure the statistical probability of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday falling on the same day, but here we are. From the outside it seems as two contrary ideas. One sometimes vaulted as an overly commercialized day where one is expected to express one’s love to his or her loved ones. The other is a day where liturgical church people mark the start of the journey to Easter – a celebration of Christ’s life, death & resurrection – with a time of serious reflection, sacrifice & confession. Yet despite each of the inherent differences, both have a pull to the heart of things quite literally. No one wants a thoughtless Valentine or an insincere ges...