Excited. I can say it no other way. Sorting through the mail today, I found a letter from a friend in prison. I was so excited. (No stigma. Statistics reflect the national reality that over 1/3 of us are connected to someone in the prison or correctional system — sad stat for our nation.) I had written two letters and hadn’t heard from him. All I wanted to know was that he was ok, and if he wanted to hear from me. We all make mistakes. I wanted him to know he was still my friend — I needed him to know that.
It is the night before Ash Wednesday. Two millenia ago, three young Christian communities and a believer were also excited to get letters from prison. The Churches at Ephesus, Corinth and Philippi and a certain beleiver named Philemon recieved letters from prison from a certain Paul. His letter was to comfort them…to challenge them…the teach them…and to remind them in whose name he was imprisoned, and in turn, in whose name they needed to remain steadfast. The prisoner was reminding the free that they sometimes made mistakes, and that both he and Christ were still their friends and loved them.
Tomorrow we will be reminded of our mortality – ashes and dust – but we shall also be called to a deeper reflection – to the immortal and eternal call – to reform our lives and believe the Good News.
