Changed By God To Make A Difference For God

So why all the fuss about sin on this Ash Wednesday and throughout the 40 days of Lent? Don't our sins amount to little more than us breaking the rules on occasion? What's the problem? Can't God wave his hand and forgive us our sins? Why this talk about the cross? Would that Sin be that simple! Alas it's not. Sin (not our individual sins, but the power of Sin) uses its power to enslave us and dehumanize us. It prevents us from fixing the problem even as it prevents us from living justly as God wants us to live. We are in need of a radical solution, of outside help! Hear what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and then resolve to consider the deadly seriousness of Sin. Lectionary texts for tonight are Joel 2.1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51.1-17; 2 Corinthians 5.20b-6.10; Matthew 6.1-6, 16-21.