Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust

Today marks one of the more interesting days in our Christian year.  Today is a day set aside for penitence, prayer, and fasting.  It's a day set aside in order for us to move from the "ah ha!" of Epiphany to the "huh?" of Lent.  It's a day where we begin our descent to the holy city of Jerusalem in order for the God of the universe; the King of kings and the Lord of lords to be...killed.

For many years Lent was ignored by many Protestant churches, including the UM church.  I guess they thought it was too "Catholic" (whatever that means).  But it seems as though Lent is making a comeback.  Much like the season of Advent, we are in a waiting game.  Lent beckons us to remember the strange truth of the Gospel.  It recalls for us that humanity could never get to God, so God came to humanity.  Lent forces us, especially us in the Western world, to face our mortality head on.  In these days of eternal youth, Lent tells us that "from dust you came and to dust you shall return."

There is a bit of judgment in this season of purple, prayers, and fasting.  We are reminded that we have not been as faithful as we should be.  We are told to repent; to turn away from ourselves and to turn towards God.  We are reminded that Christ will return and when he does it will be as judge and king.

I suppose that's why some churches, and many people, downplay this season.  We like the lights and gifts of Christmas.  We love the triumph and excitement of Easter.  But one thing I have come to appreciate about this season is that without a Lenten walk, Easter does not mean much.  Without this season of self-denial and self-examination, Eastertide is not much more than eggs and a bunny.

This evening, my congregation will begin our Lenten journey together.  We will have a service of confession, admonition, imposition of ashes, and Holy Communion.  Collectively, we will join our voices in repentance.  Our focus will come together as we make our way towards the cross of Christ.  We will bear one another's burdens and we will lament together.

Whether you are a part of a tradition that gathers for Ash Wednesday or not, I invite you to hear these words from the book of Joel and remember how truly gracious our God is.

"Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.  Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing."--Joel 2:12-13




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