February 17th, 2010 § 4
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
Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
– From The Book of Common Prayer
For a great overview of the meaning and symbolism of Ash Wednesday, see my friend Bill Streger’s post on his blog.
February 25th, 2009 § 0
Remember that you are dust; and to dust you shall return – The Book of Common Prayer
The Lenten season will be starting this week, and I have a confession to make; I love Lent. The epitaph above is taken from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. Those are the words spoken as the priest marks your forehead with ashes, what is referred to as the imposition of ashes, on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The words are a reminder to us that the things of this world are temporary, and that all things are cyclical. Though often a cliche, it is worthwhile to remember that our quest for material possessions is at the end a futile effort simply because when we die they will be of no value to us.
The season of Lent asks us to let go of something of value in our daily lives for a little over forty days. Many give up a beloved food or drink. Others give up television or movies. Whatever we give up, the idea is that it should be something that we cling to, find comfort in, and turn to more than we should. The idea being that our comfort and fulfillment is to be found in Christ and Christ alone. But more than just sacrifice, Lent also calls us to draw nearer to God. The fast in and of itself has little value. Rather, the value of Lent is found in redirecting our thoughts and our priorities towards God, and recommitting our spirit to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, study, and service.
How could such a season not be a refreshing occasion in the society we live in? Every year I become genuinely excited about the prospect of separating myself, if just a little bit, from what I call the I-want-an-oompa-loompa-NOW! society.
Lent is also a time of community. That the Church as a corporate body takes part in the fast together, which is a clear separation from the world and its culture, binds us together. At our parish, there is a weekly Lenten meal where anyone is invited to come and eat together. Often it is something simple, such as a bowl of lentil soup. But the meal in itself is not really that important. We all take time out of our busy schedules to sit down together as a community and reconnect. By doing so we our emboldened in our commitment to Christ and to the Lenten fast simply by the fact that we know we are not alone, that here there are people taking on the same commitments.
I have another confession to make: I have not always kept my Lenten fast. It’s true. In moments of horrible weakness, I have broken down and taken part in what I had chosen to forsake. Lent only asks of me to give up one thing, but sometimes that seems to be too much of a burden to bare. That such a simple request seems so insurmountable at times is a reminder to me of how imperfect I am, and how much I really do need the grace of Christ. It is also a reminder of how self-serving I really am. But as with all failures, I look upon this stumble as an opportunity to grow. And that is really what Lent is all about.