On Ash Wednesday, we enter a season of penitence and soul-searching that leads through the wilderness to Good Friday’s cross and on to the joys of Easter morning. It’s good that we take stock of where we are in our journeys of life and faith. It’s good that we hear once again that we are dust, and to dust we shall return.
As we think about our ending, it’s important that we look back to our beginning. We are created by God; we did not just happen. Our dust was molded by the very hands of God and his Spirit breathed life into it. Our dust (our beginning) and our ashes (our ending) are blessed by God.
So, we come this day to hear “You are dust, and to dust you shall return”, and to be marked by ashes with the sign of the cross, not as a threat, but as a promise, as these words are spoken, “May Christ raise you to new life.”
While we’re comforted by the presence of each other gathered in the sanctuary, and by the assurance of God’s faithfulness, today’s words of scripture bring only harsh words of warning. As the trumpet call in Joel gathers God’s people in holy assembly, so we are called to recognize and grieve our sins, to mourn our separation from God, and to weep and cry out for God’s healing touch.
Lent calls for a change of heart. It’s about longing for a closer walk with God and returning to the One who gives us life; it’s about recognizing and grieving our sins, breaking open our hearts and mourning our separation from God. Our hearts are troubled and divided and hardened and closed; our hearts are wounded and broken, weak and fearful, unforgiving and sinful. We hear Jesus’ words recorded in the gospel of Matthew: “If only they would open their hearts and turn to me, they would be healed.”
May this Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, this first day of Lent, be a “wake-up” call for each one of us. It’s been said of most of us, that if we keep on the way we’re going, we will wake up and realize we have never truly lived. Let us open ourselves to the work of grace God longs to do in our lives as we make the Lenten Journey this year.
Elizabeth
I received a Valentine Box in the mail today from my five-year old great grandson, addressed “To the Best Grammy” and wrapped in rainbow paper with red stickers scattered all over and clear plastic tape sealing and securing everything for mailing.
The card had his name and mine, written in his finest pre-school hand , and the gifts were carefully chosen: a cat because you are Purr-fect; socks to feel like a warm hug; a rainbow because you brighten the rainy days; Chocolate cherries because I “cherry” about you a lot; a butterfly because you make my heart flutter! The objects were things he knows I love; the words, I’m sure were a joint effort with his thoughtful Mom. A very special valentine gift from a very special little boy, and I gave thanks for the gift of his love in my life.
I often think how blessed I am to enjoy a great-grandson! The many experiences we’re shared have brought great joy to my life and I count him as one of my greatest blessings. From lunches at “Chikolay” to trips to zoos and farms; from wading in streams to climbing trees and feeding the birds and putting corn out for the squirrels; to sharing school programs and community fairs; from coloring my sidewalk and steps with chalk, to playing games, watching movies and doing art projects and baking cookies and picking blueberries - life with this little fellow is a great adventure.
My great-grandparents would hold me on their laps, and share sweet hugs and kisses, and tell me stories, but we never played or traveled about together. I was always told to be gentle with them and not run and make noise when we visited. How grateful I am to be able to have shared so much of this young life, and how I treasure each moment we have together.
It’s been said that “grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.” Great-grandchildren do even more connecting! After we’ve grown up and raised our own children, it can be hard to remember the simple joys of childhood we used to know. Having grandchildren is a great reminder of that joy! Having great grandchildren is an even greater reminder of that joy!
Elizabeth
I’m re-reading Who is This Man? by John Ortberg. This was to have been our Lenten Study in 2020, but the covid lock-down changed our plans. I’m looking forward to sharing this study in Lent 2023.
Ortberg speaks of the Church as an “alternative community”, made up of Jesus’ followers – ordinary people who rearranged their lives in radical ways:
“They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together. Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. All the Lord’s followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. Day after day, they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.” (Acts 42-47)
Ortbery goes on the share what he feels is “God’s Dream for the Church.”
This idea behind Disney’s “It’s a Small World” ride – of a diverse world gathered together like a family – is an idea that originated with Jesus. It’s interesting to note that the ride began as “Children of the World” an attraction PEPSI hired Walt Disney to develop for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Conceived as a tribute and fundraiser for UNICEF, the original design called for the national anthems of every country featured throughout the ride to be played simultaneously. Anticipating a loud racket of competing words and melodies, Disney asked two songwriters to create one song that could be easily translated into many languages and played as a round. The result was “It’s a Small World After All.”
Ortberg poses the question, “As Jesus followers, what kinds of things do we do that cause our presence in the world to be more like a loud racket of competing words and melodies rather than one song?” A question to be answered in our Lenten Study!
Elizabeth