2/22/2023: Ash Wednesday

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the Christian’s 40-day journey with the Lord to the cross and tomb, preparing for the proclamation of Easter. The 40 days are reminiscent of several biblical events: Jesus’ 40-day fast at the beginning of his ministry, Moses’ stay on Mount Sinai at the giving of the Ten Commandments, Elijah’s fast on his way to the mountain of God.

Ash Wednesday begins the Christian’s Lenten journey with a reminder of our mortality and a call to repentance. The ancient practice of imposing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful is what gives Ash Wednesday its name. Throughout church history, writers have described the practice as a public expression of repentance and of our human frailty that stands in need of Christ. The ashes remind us forcefully of our need for redeeming grace as they recall words from the rite for Christian burial: “...earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust...,” words that will someday be spoken over us all. The imposition of ashes is observed widely by Christians of many traditions.

A WHOLLY HUMBLED HEART

To understand our greatest needs, we need to understand our greatest problems. So, here is the irony. One of our greatest problems is we do not think we have many problems at all. This can be especially true of those who are religious. We look to our religious activity—our regular time in prayer, our generous offerings, our volunteerism—as proof that we are just fine, certainly better than most. This belief is reinforced when others notice all the good we do and praise us for it.

Ash Wednesday is the antidote to pride. If we are so good, then why are we slowly turning back into dirt? Ash Wednesday teaches the sobering truth that one day soon, people won’t see the best version of ourselves, but the dead one. “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” That Ash Wednesday refrain echoes the funeral rite that will one day be spoken over us all: ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

On this first day of Lent, God intends to give us what we badly need—a wholly humbled heart that looks to Christ in contrition and true repentance. Such a heart will produce piety without any of the posing and pomp that pride tries to inject.

Preacher: Vicar Micah Otto on Matthew 6:1-6,16-21, “Humble or Hypocrite?”

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