Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

People love Ash Wednesday for a variety of reasons and folks who never appear in church any other time often show up for the distribution of ashes. Perhaps, deep down, people who are pushed about by the whims of our consumer driven culture, desire a moment of austerity, a reality check if you will. But my friends, Ash Wednesday cannot be just about death and still be Christian. As the mid-twentieth century monk and mystic Thomas Merton warned, we cannot turn the distribution of ashes into some sort of “sacrament of death as if such a thing were even possible”.

The ashes themselves say all that needs to be said about death. Let them speak their power. Perhaps though rather than the traditional "remember mortal that  you are dust and dust you shall return", we are better served by the optional words at distribution “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or, in other words, turn around and believe the good news. Use the days ahead to turn around.

Turn around and see the whole history of God’s covenant love and salvific will at work in the world. Turn around and see the saving life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Turn around and see the Spirit at work blowing away the dust and ashes of death and breathing new life into dry bones. Spend some time during these forty days sitting with Sacred Scripture. Believe that the triune God is at work in the world for you and for all – for the whole of creation.

Turn around and see the messes you have made in your life and in the lives of others. Turn around and see the trail of tears left behind by deeds done in our name by both church and country. Turn around and see the abuse we have afflicted on our dear mother earth. Spend some time during these forty days in introspection and deep soul-searching examining your conscience for those things done and undone that contribute to death rather than life. Believe that all of this baggage can be left behind and that God offers forgiveness and new life for you and for all – for the whole of creation.

Turn around and see the marvels God has wrought in and through you on your journey of life. Turn around and see God's love for you expressed in love shown to you by others, in the peace that has come unexpectedly at just the right time, and in events that we can only in all humility call miraculous. Turn around and see, if you will, those famous footprints in the sand. Believe that you are God's beloved, a small but no less important part of God's beloved creation.

In various places the liturgical texts for lent dare to call this special time of year, God’s gift to us and, yes, a joyful season. Our turning is God’s grace at work in us. Our believing is God’s work in us. God's work is indeed marvelous and joyful to behold.

We are indeed dust and ashes, but dust and ashes loved beyond all understanding and destined to be re-formed as citizens of the new heaven and the new earth.

Repent and believe in the Gospel!

Turn around and believe the good news!

Amen.