ASH WEDNESDAY: Another Chance for Us
Wednesday, the Universal Church marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. For
forty days, we are invited to contemplate the promise and fulfillment of the
merciful love of God made known to us by the suffering, death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. What makes this day unique during the liturgical celebration
is the marking or imposition of ashes on our foreheads.
does the Bible say about Ashes?
In the Old
Testament, we see many instances when the use of ashes is closely linked to
acts of repentance, fasting and openness to the intervention of divine mercy.
For example, the Prophet Jeremiah invited people to repentance because God
intended to inflict punishment on them for their iniquities. He said to the
people: “O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes,
[…], for sudden upon us comes the destroyer.” (Jer 6:26).
we see the Prophet Daniel coming before God on behalf of the People of Israel
to utter the prayer of repentance and pleading for God’s mercy to come upon the
people. “I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer with fasting,
sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord, my God, and confessed.” (Dn 9:3).
example of repentance that involves the sackcloth and ashes is what happened
when Jonah preached in the great city of Nineveh. All the people in the City,
beginning with their King, opened their hearts to repentance and appealed for
God’s mercy. “When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his
throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the
ashes. […]. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing
wrath, so that we shall not perish.” (Jon 3:6). In the Book of Judith, we
see the same happening. As people express their repentance before God, they put
ashes on their heads and appeal for forgiveness: “And all the Israelite
men, women and children who lived in Jerusalem prostrated themselves in front
of the temple building, with ashes strewn on their heads” (Jdt 4:1).
the Book of the Maccabees, we see that the rebels who were fighting for Jewish
independence expressing their total submission to the power of God by use of
ashes: “That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on
their heads and tore their clothes” (1 Mc 3:47).
Testament, Jesus makes reference to the use of sackcloth and ashes as signs of
repentance when he said: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For
if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they
would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes” (Mt 11:21, Lk 10:13).
do the Readings of Ash Wednesday Say?
The readings
highlight the call to prayer, fasting and conversion. In the First Reading, the
Prophet Joel appeals to the people to return to the Lord “with fasting,
and weeping and mourning.” This God is “gracious and merciful…slow
to anger, rich in kindness and relenting in punishment.” This invitation
to conversion of heart is extended to the whole community of Israel. “Blow
the trumpet in Zion, proclaim a fast, call an assembly; gather the people,
notify the congregation; assemble the elders, gather the children and the
infants at the breast.” Joel is reminding us that we are all in need of
the mercy of God and conversion. We need to encourage and support one another
on this journey (Joel 2:12 – 18).
In the
Second Reading, St. Paul implores us, “be reconciled to God.”
“Now,” he insists, “is a very acceptable time; behold, now is
the day of salvation.” The time to return to the Lord is now, this holy
season, this very day. Reconciliation with God and with one another is today or
never. (2 Cor 5:20-6:2).
The Gospel
gives us good advice and an agenda for the season of Lent. Jesus speaks of the
three main disciplines of this season: giving alms, praying and fasting. Jesus
reminds us that these activities are to be done without any desire for public
recognition, praise or honor. These are supposed to be signs of a people that
have been reconciled with God, concerned about the neighbor and able to
sacrifice for the good of others. When we wear the ashes, it is not to proclaim
our holiness but to acknowledge that we are a community of sinners in need of
repentance and conversion.
How
important is Ash Wednesday for all of us?
During the
liturgical celebration, there are two possible formulas that are used during
the imposition of ashes on people’s foreheads.
The first
says: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.” This
formula focuses on our mortality to sin as the reason for the call to
repentance. We remember that we are creatures of the earth but it is only by
the power of the Holy Spirit that we receive the breathe of life as children of
God.
The second
says, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.” This
formula is a clear call to conversion.
It reminds us of that movement away from sin to Christ our redeemer.
Conversion is the process of transformation and we are invited to embrace it
over and over again.
Lent
is a Movement from Ashes to the Waters of Baptism
Ash
Wednesday initiates the pilgrimage of renewal and conversion toward the
passion, death and resurrection of Christ. It is a movement from making our
forehead dirty with ashes to acknowledge our sinfulness and journey towards
renewal in the waters of baptism through prayer, fasting and arms giving. That,
simply put, is the point of Ash Wednesday!
WEDNESDAY
Blessed are you, O
Lord our God, the all-holy one, who gives us life and all things. As we go
about our lives, the press of our duties and activities often leads us to
forget your presence and your love. We fall into sin and fail to live out the
responsibilities that you have entrusted to those who were baptized into your
Son.
help us to turn our minds and hearts back to you. Lead us into sincere
repentance and renew our lives with your grace. Help us to remember that we are
sinners, but even more; help us to remember your loving mercy.
this Ash Wednesday, may the crosses of ashes that mark our foreheads be a
reminder to us and to those we meet that we belong to your Son.
prayer and penitence this day be sustained throughout these 40 days of Lent.
Bring us refreshed and renewed to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection at
Easter. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives, and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
Mulenga
Pastoral Coordinator,
AMECEA
