Even the darkest moments of the liturgy are filled with joy. And Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lent fast, is a day of happiness, a Christian feast. It cannot be otherwise, as it forms part of the great Easter cycle. – Thomas Merton
Last Wednesday my family and I attended our first Ash Wednesday service. My youngest son was fussy. So I was not able to fully participate. But I did receive
ashes. After the service I spoke with my priest, Fr. John. I was excited to be
there because earlier that day I took some time to read about Ash Wednesday. What I learned created much anticipation for
the service.
I
remember smiling as I talked with Fr. John.
As a matter of fact, earlier in the service, I was smiling too when he
marked my forehead with ashes. When I
got home later that evening, I looked through the bulletin. Guess what I found. The last note on the last page read “All
depart in prayerful silence.” Ah, no
wonder people had left the service without talking! Well, everybody except one. The observance of Ash Wednesday is a sobering
and penitential act for the Church; hence leaving in prayerful silence. But let me share with you what I learned
about Ash Wednesday that created the excitement and anticipation for me.
As I
mentioned in my previous posts, the ashes imposed signify two things. For one, they signify your frailty and the
certainty of death. Secondly, they
signify true sorrow for sin; both personal and social sins. When you receive the ashes, they should be to
you a sign of your mortality and penitence.
In essence, you acknowledge sin and its consequences. As a matter of fact, when the priest marks
your forehead with ashes you are reminded that death is God’s judgment against
sin. The following words are spoken,
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Those words come from Genesis 3:19. Now what’s significant about them? For one, they are spoken by God. And two, they are words of judgment against
Adam for he broke God’s commandment. And
we learn from Romans 5:12 that death has spread to humanity because of Adam’s
sin. Therefore, when you receive the
ashes you acknowledge that God’s judgment against sin extends even to you. So yes, Ash Wednesday is meant to be a
sobering and penitential act for the Church.
But please note the prayer the officiating priest prays before the
imposition of ashes:
"Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen."
The
ashes are meant to signify our mortality and sorrow for sin so that we may
remember!! Remember what? That it is only by God’s gracious gift that
we are given everlasting life! The ashes
signify to me that I am certain to die.
I am dust, and to dust I shall return.
God’s judgment against sin extends to me. Do I grieve over sin and its
consequences? Who is not sorrowful when
they bury a loved one? Sin is to
blame! Why do we murder each other? Slaughter innocent children? Sin is to blame! Why do we manipulate the poor and oppress the
weak? Speak harshly to our spouses and
create divisions in the Church? Sin is
to blame! Sin breaks down relationships,
separates us from one another, and creates sadness and despair. Most of all, sin separates us from God; from
the One who is compassionate, merciful, gracious, and slow to anger. Sin separates us from He who is love. The ashes tell me all of this! They speak to me of death and sin! How could I ever save myself from this body
of death? How could you deliver yourself
from this wretched condition? How could
anyone? But the ashes tell me all of
this so that I might remember that it’s only by God’s gracious gift that I am given everlasting life. Therefore, Ash Wednesday should culminate
with a sense of peace and joy in the grace of God.
I
have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
– Psalm 13:5 –
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