Ash Wednesday Reflection

Lectionary Readings for the Day:
Joel 2:1-2,12-17
Psalm 51:1-17
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Today we begin the season of Lent. The day is called Ash Wednesday. In the Old Testament ashes were seen as a sign of grief or penitence. As the season of Lent begins, we start with a service that reminds us clearly of our need for penitence. Ash Wednesday is a somber day, second only to Good Friday in the solemnity of the celebration.

If you come to church today for the Ash Wednesday service, you can expect to engage in personal and corporate confession of sin. You can expect to hear the scriptures talk about fasting, almsgiving, prayer. You can expect to have the pastor make the sign of the cross on your forehead using ashes from palm branches that were used in previous years on Palm Sunday.

Don't come expecting to be lifted up and to rejoice. Come to worship expecting to be reminded of your own humanity and sinfulness. Come to worship expecting to hear the pastor say, as he imposes the cross of your forehead, "From dust you came and to dust you shall return."

If that doesn't remind you of the fleeting nature of this life, then you need to sit back and examine your spiritual life. Our life is but a short breath when compared to eternity. Ash Wednesday reminds us of that short span and invites us to come to terms with what our place in God's eternity is all about.

Prayer: Lord, help me to begin the season of Lent with an introspective spirit. Let your Spirit shine the light of the Gospel on all the recesses of my heart and make me aware of my relationship with you. Amen.