The Unexamined Life: An Ash Wednesday Homily

I was just in Ephesus, Turkey last week and the visit inspired me to think about Plato and Socrates. Socrates lived before Christ in Athens between 470-399 BC. As he matured he believed in one God and was accused of impiety by the governing Athenians because he wouldn’t worship the gods of the state. At age 70 he was forced to commit suicide by drinking hemlock. One of his most famous quotes was: “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

I have been thinking about how Socrates' philosophy connects to the Lenten season which begins tonight with Ash Wednesday. If Jesus had been alive when Socrates lived, I think they would have agreed on many things. Both came from families of stone-cutters and carpenters. Here are three philosophies for living they both believed in: 1. Humility was an important virtue to Socrates as it was to Jesus. 2. Behaving righteously and being conscious of right and wrong at all times was taught by both. Socrates promoted ethical philosophy and behaving ethically which was the way of Jesus.   3. Socrates like Jesus, prioritized truth over falsehood and the pursuit of virtue over the pursuit of material wealth.

If they engage one another in heaven, wouldn’t it be interesting to listen in on their conversations? Throughout history, Christians have been striving to be virtuous and humble. During Lent we are called to draw near to God through fasting, prayer, and reading the Word of God. Especially during the Lenten season we are encouraged to examine our lives to assess where we have sinned or need improvement, and to be aware of God working in and through our lives.

This Psalm 103 of David is a favorite of mine. These memorable words are wonderful to memorize and meditate on during lent. They are very reassuring of God’s loving care and forgiveness: “Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord Oh my soul and forget not all his benefits”….And there are many benefits listed! I love the way it says God redeems your life from the Pit, and satisfies you with good as long as you live^* so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

That image of flying like an eagle is especially uplifting, isn’t it? Humans have revered these birds since the ancient times. I was at a Temple reconstructed in Turkey at Sardis. It was the temple built for the Goddess Diana. There was an enormous marble table with two huge eagles supporting it on each side. It was a table like our communion table but made of marble.

This psalm goes on to promise that: “The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. And reminds us that: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” 

Abounding in steadfast love. That steadfast love of God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. "God removes our transgressions from us. As a parent has compassion for their children so the Lord has compassion for us. For God knows how we were made and remembers that we are dust."

Take a moment. Examine your life. What obstacle do you place in the way of the Holy Spirit or "sin" do you need to let go of, in order to truly accept God’s embrace of steadfast love and compassion?

(Postscript: After writing the homily above, I found this: "Percy Bysshe Shelley refers to Socrates as “the Jesus Christ of Greece.” See this website: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/socrates/)