Dear Friends,
One of our little ones asked after last night’s Ash Wednesday service, “Mother TJ, why did you put that black tattoo on our heads?” Good question! I gave a response appropriate to his age. Time enough, I thought, for him to learn the deep truths underlying the sign of the ashes; for now, he will know the sign itself.
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Yes, we have the promise of resurrection life, but only after the demise that awaits us all, just as it awaited Jesus.
Why do we need this annual reminder? It’s not as though the last several weeks alone haven’t brought enough reminders of death: three school shootings, one in our own commonwealth; the loss of Fr. John Noe, longtime priest at Holy Family; yet another plane crash, this one near Moscow; wars in a half-dozen or more places.
We need the reminder so that we will repent of our sins. Despite the frequency with which we say the General Confession in worship, repentance sometimes gets overshadowed by the more welcome parts of the Good News. But consider that repentance is Jesus’s first topic out of the chute in Mark’s gospel: in Chapter 1, in quick succession, he is baptized by John, he is sent into the wilderness to be tempted, and he comes back to Galilee preaching, “repent, and believe in the good news.” Repent. Have sincere sorrow for sinful things done and needful things left undone. Make amends. Resolve to do better. Ask for – and accept – forgiveness. Repentance is the key that unlocks the door to faith. It is an admission of our utter dependence on God and acceptance of his sovereignty. Repentance makes us humble; forgiveness makes us grateful. We are inclined to be obedient, moving toward worthiness of the resurrected life.
The Imposition of Ashes is a mark of the beginning of our Lenten self-examination. Take the time during these next six weeks to contemplate the presence of sin in your life. Ask forgiveness. Do better. Sit in God’s presence in prayer. Read the Holy Scriptures. Your ashes will be wiped away by now; don’t let their significance fade as well.
Wishing you every blessing,
Mtr. TJ