The little girl was at the church for the baptism of her new baby brother. She was intrigued by all the sites of the church but most especially with the 'big bowl' filled with water. Her mother told her that this water would be blessed making it holy water like the water at the doors of the church. " That was the special water that we used to make the cross on ourselves when we entered," the mother continued. The little girl ran to the holy water, made the sign of the cross, ran back to her mother and asked, "Can you see the cross on me?"
Today, every catholic received the sign of their faith in the form of a cross on their forehead. It was made with the black soot of burnt palms. It is a symbol of our weakness to sin and of our faith. Today as we walked the streets of the city, shopped in stores, worked at our jobs, there was no denying what we believe in. There was no question about whether we are followers of the way. Everyone who saw us knew who we were and what we believe. But what about tomorrow? What about the other 364 days of the year?
When Ash Wednesday is complete and we have washed our foreheads, will others be able to see the cross that was placed there forever at our baptism? It can not be seen with the eye,but it can be seen with the heart. Will others feel our love, compassion, understanding, support and understand that it comes to them from Jesus through us? We sing that others will know we are Christians by our love, but will they? Do people who see us in stores, and on trains, and walking the streets see Jesus? Will they know who we are and what we believe even if they don't know our names?
We pray tonight that every day we learn to live our lives so that all will see Jesus in us. All will know our faith. All will see our mark of God's love. Not one day,but every day.
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