Show Me Love
written by Fr. Eric Sundrup, SJ on Ash Wednesday
Have you seen the Coca Cola commercial #MakeItHappy? If not take a quick look. That odd synthesized chorus in the background is “Show Me Love” by Hundred Waters.
It’s an interesting lens to use today as everyone starts putting up #AshTag selfies. We are capable of great cruelty and ugliness. We are also capable of great love and forgiveness. What are you going to spread this Lent?
Today’s readings warn us about the dangers of forgetting why we fast.
Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them…
When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites…
To paraphrase Jesus a little: If you fast or do righteous deeds… Show me love. Don’t lose track of the love that is at the base of your Lenten preparation, the reason for your fasting.
When we mark ourselves with ashes today, we remind ourselves that we are sinners and we are in need of redemption. Try not to give into pride. We don’t mark ourselves to be praised and exulted. We mark ourselves because we know we need help. We need preparation. We need to change. We need to be converted. We mark ourselves because we are sinners, sinners who have hope.
The first lines of the song on the Coca Cola commercial say:
Don’t let me show cruelty
Though I may make mistakes
Don’t let me show ugliness
Though I know I can hate
Today we acknowledge the reality of our cruelty and our ugliness. We acknowledge our need to prepare. We will make mistakes. We know we can hate. But that doesn’t need to be the end of the story. Let us pray that the ashes on our foreheads remind us of our need to be converted. Let us pray that our fasting lead us to conversion. Now is the time to prepare. We prepare ourselves so that we might show love more fully every day.
Show me love
Show me love
Show me love
Questions for Reflection:
In what areas of your life are you most in need of help, change, or redemption? Talk to God about these things and ask God for help.
How might you show love this Lent?
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Fr. Eric Sundrup, SJ
Fr. Eric was ordained in June 2014 and joined the SMSP Campus Ministry staff in August. A native of Cincinnati, OH, Fr. Eric relocated to Ann Arbor after completing his degree at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA. Fr. Eric spent part of his Jesuit training living and working in Bolivia and Peru and is excited to be working with our vibrant Hispanic ministry.
Email: esundrup@smspnewman.org