Psalm 51: 1-3 “1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”(NRSV)
Ashes, suffering and pending death, never
seems like a great topic to start a conversation with someone. We participate in the service of Ash
Wednesday as we begin the season of Lent. During the 40 days prior to Easter we
are to be in a state of repentance. You see we place ashes on our foreheads to
remind us of the suffering that Jesus encountered during his trial, crucifixion
and death.
The ashes that are placed on our foreheads as an outward symbol of
suffering actually are made from the burning of the palms that we use as a
reminder of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
What
a contrast; we see the palms as joyous in the celebration and then the ashes as
a sign of death and suffering.
These
ashes we wear as a symbol of all the suffering we experience through the
separation of our relationship with God through our sin.
Once
we complete the journey of Lent, we once again see the glorified and risen
Christ. The one who came to reclaim us from our eternal suffering to a place of
relationship and love that God has for all God's children.
So wear
your ashes, as a sign of repentance for the sin we have committed and how Jesus
gave the ultimate sacrifice for each one of us!
