Have you ever sat in sackcloth and ashes? In today’s Gospel passage Jesus states that the pagan towns of Tyre and Sidon would have certainly sat in sackcloth and ashes if they would have been privileged to witness the mighty deeds done in the Jewish towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida. “Sackcloth and ashes” were a common sign used to indicate interior repentance and sorrow for sin. There are many times throughout the Old Testament when this happened. Ashes symbolized desolation and destruction resulting from purifying fire. Of course, all of us put a sign of the cross with ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday as an external manifestation of our desire to repent. Though putting on actual sackcloth for clothing today may not be a practice, it is good to see the spiritual fruitfulness of these actions and to other consider ways in which these actions can still be performed in our day and age. First of all, to properly answer what is really important is to recognize the fact that turning from sin should not only be a personal and interior act, it must also be exterior for others to see. Sin not only does harm to us individually, but it also damages others in varying degrees. Therefore, if our sin has done clear harm to others, it’s important to realize that we not only need to repent to God but also repent in such a way that others see our repentance and sorrow. What practical action can you take to publicly manifest your desire to turn from sin and toward the Gospel? Blessings. Fr. Mussie