ASH  WEDNESDAY
When Adam was expelled from the Garden of Eden, God pronounced a sentence of death on the man and his descendants: "You shall earn your bread with the sweat of your brow, until you go back into the ground from which you came; dust you are, and unto dust you shall return."
We have all sinned in Adam, and we have added our personal sins to that Original Sin.  We all have need of penance and repentance.  We need a change of heart and a willingness to return fully to God.  It is in our own interest to return humble and penitent, for sin brings the penalty of death to body and soul.
The external penances we do in Lent are an admission of our guilt, and our willingness to return to God.  But remember, God can look deep into our hearts and read them.  If our external penances are not an expression of sorrow for our sins, then the Lord will be disappointed.  He will ignore our acts of penance, and number us among the hypocrites. "Believe me, they have received their reward."  (Matt. 6:16) 
When challenged by God, Adam began to offer all sorts of excuses for his sin, seeking to throw the blame on Eve.  He did not grasp the gravity of his sin.  How many people today don't realize how serious is their misconduct!  "Boys will be boys," and "What happens in Vegas ..." doesn't cut it with the Almighty.  Adam had the sentence of expulsion and death pronounced upon him.  The whole earth was cursed forever with the stain of sin because of that one, first sin. 
That penalty was lifted by the Redeemer.  Death is changed into eternal life for those who do penance.  Even the curse on the earth is removed.
Our penances should not make us sad.  Let's be cheerful as we set about washing ourselves more and more from our sins, clothing ourselves more fully with the grace of Christ, which he won for us in his passion and death.  We should also remember to pray for and do penance for those whose hearts are hardened in sin, especially family members and former members of our Church community.
Lent is a great time to put things right.  Let's make the most of this season of grace.
May the Lord be with our Church, especially our own Bishop Francis and the Pope.
May Mary, Mother of God, pray for us and all poor sinners. 
Amen.