February 25, 2009 Sermon
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Ash Wednesday - B
2 Kings;
February 25, 2009 Allan Conkling
It seems that no matter how far you stray in life from your religious roots, if you were raised in a liturgical church you will at some point return on Ash Wednesday. It is just something we do. If you are one of those coming back, welcome. If this is your very first Ash Wednesday at Emmanuel I hope it will be a service that will be meaningful to you.
Compared with our wonderful Mardi Gras party last night Ash Wednesday is quite a contrast particularly in its invitation to prayer, fasting and self-denial. Words like "penitence" "wretchedness" and "lamenting our sins" are fall hard on the ears of Episcopalians, and admittedly seem out of character from the way we usually do things here. We forget that prayer, fasting and self-denial were at one time central to ancient Jewish devotion as well as to the early Christian church. Jesus took for granted that his followers would continue to fast, pray and give alms. His only concern was that they do these things in the right spirit and not to impress people.
Over the years Episcopalians have lived with a certain amount of ambivalence in regard to Ash Wednesday. I was taught to, and I still do, place Kleenex at the back of the church for those who want to wipe off the ashes after leaving. The point of this day is not to create feelings of undue guilt of self-absorption. This is not about creating anxiety or poor self esteem. Lord knows we have enough to things to worry about.
On the other hand, it is not a bad thing from time to time to be reminded of where we fit in to the grand scheme of things. Speaking for myself I often get sidetracked with minutia and lose sight of the big picture.
The book of Genesis tells us that we were all created by God out of the dust of the earth. The Hebrew word for dust, ground, or dirt is "adamah" from which we get the name, Adam. Scientists tell us that some of the trace elements found in each of our bodies comes from the particles born in the explosive beginning of our universe. We contain the "dust" of creation. Fascinating that the Bible has been saying this all along! The same hand that created the galaxies and super novas, planets and subatomic particles is the same hand that created you and me. We think of ourselves as so big and so self-sufficient. When you think about it we are actually very, very small.
Ash Wednesday developed over centuries of reflecting on our humanness as compared to God’s "godness". The Church reminds us that our value comes not from ourselves, but from that breath of God within us. Formed as we are from humble beginnings we contain the potential for doing mighty things. At the same time are also very human.
Ash Wednesday reminds us of all those times and situations when we failed to make the most of life; when we treated others less than ourselves. It also reminds us that sooner or later we will return to the very earth from which we were taken. Ashes on our forehead bear an uncanny resemblance to what will be left of us all a thousand years from now.
But this is not a day without celebration. For out of the ashes, like the Phoenix, there can arise new life within us.
"Now is the acceptable time" says St. Paul, "Now is the day of Salvation."
As you take part in this service listen to the Exhortation and the prayers. Never forget that you are beloved of God. Hear the Good News that Christ came into the world to show us a life of joy without bounds. No one stands beyond the loving embrace of God.
Soon the ashes will be washed off or removed, but inwardly the mark of holiness of life will remain. Let today be the start of a new perspective on life. Pay attention to the present moment. Listen to the stirring in your heart.
Then take on a Lenten discipline if that is what you feel called to do. Read a good book. Start keeping a journal. Work, pray, give for the spread of the Kingdom. Have a blessed and thoughtful Lent.
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Revised: 03/10/09