ASH WEDNESDAY

 

BY STEVE DUNN

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. " - James 4.10
 

Ash Wednesday is one of those special days that many people don't get.  In our entertainment-based culture, it is not very entertaining.  Reflection, confession, repentance and renewal are the pattern for Lent and Ash Wednesday is the beginning of that process.   Lent can be a solitary and gloomy time and many people don't want to let such things enter their lives,  And they certainly don't want their peace disturbed, spiritual peace and otherwise.

Traditionally Ash Wednesday is marked with a marking,  It's called the "Imposition of the Ashes." Palm branches--those symbols of temporary human praise are burned and then the remains ground into fine ashes that are used to mark the forehead of the worshipper with the sign of the Cross.  The reminder of the death of Christ that was required so that we would removed from sin's penalty and power.

Again, people don't like being reminded of death--anyone's.  It is preferable to live in denial of death.

Yet it is when we remember Christ's death and submit ourselves to His leadership that we truly become alive in Christ.

But first you must mourn.

(C) 2013 by Stephen L Dunn