Out of the Ashes

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.” The words are stark, but this traditional phrase, spoken at the imposition of ashes during the Ash Wednesday service, is a powerful entrance to the meaning of the Lenten season.

Lent began yesterday, and once again we embarked upon our 40 day journey toward the joy of Easter. These precious days give us an opportunity to reflect on our humanity and our need for Jesus Christ. They allow us to consider the frailty of our lives and the brokenness of humanity, while celebrating the transforming presence of God in our lives, and the need that all of us have to experience the grace and salvation Jesus offers.

As special as this season is, many Christians miss the full beauty of Lent. They attend most of the six Sunday Worships, but they miss the power of the special services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. Yet, these special times of worship offer some of the most meaningful moments on the Lenten journey. It is within these holy moments that the traditional symbols and scriptures impart their deepest meaning.

Growing up, my church never offered a service on Ash Wednesday. To be honest, we hardly even mentioned Lent. In fact, I was well into my teens when I first understood what it was. Rituals, symbols and seasons of the Church calendar were not included in our church life. At first, the whole idea seemed foreign to me – something that belonged to another denomination, but not to me. However, as I learned about their meaning and took the risk to participate in the experience, I began to see the beauty and wonder they created.

I felt a little silly as I approached the pastor the first time to have the dust of burnt palm branches placed on my forehead, but as his finger traced the sign of the cross and heard the words of imposition, I felt the emotion well up inside me. Here I was, connecting to Christians around the world and throughout history, being reminded of my need for the cross of Christ to connect with the broken dust of my life. Without Christ in my life, all I was, was a creature of dust, but through the cross, that dust had an eternal future.

The symbols and rituals of Lent are new, and different for many of us, but when we allow ourselves to participate in them, we can experience their power as they re-present Christ to us in ways that connect us to one another and to all the faithful throughout history. While there is no magic in the palm ashes or in the words of the ritual, there is tremendous meaning that can change, not only our experience of Lent, but our entire journey of faith.

This year, will you let the symbols of our faith deepen your spiritual journey as you share in these special experiences together? You may just discover something you never expected.

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