Ash Wednesday 2023
Symbols of the Passion of Jesus, used as Lenten reflections throughout the Christian 40-day journey
February 22, 2023
Ash Wednesday
“Did someone hit you on the forehead?” I was asked this question twice today! In years past, some have tried to remove the ‘dirt’ from my forehead for me. Others have asked where I got ‘that bruise’? It is either an opportunity to feel awkward, or, to step out in faith and offer a gentle explanation, “It’s ashes; it’s Ash Wednesday.” This can open up a time of bafflement or education. I have asked them if they are aware of what this means, as it really looked more like a dirty smudge than a cross. Some say, “ya, I used to go to church with my grandmother (or some such person) and do that”, . . . or “I’m not Catholic” . . . or, a host of other responses.
While I was raised and educated Catholic, I am also very much a Christian, though explaining the Christianity of Catholicism can be just as tricky as explaining the dirty smudge on my forehead. For those of you who may not be aware, Catholics are Christians.
I’ll just leave that there for a bit. What’s with the ashes, though?
“Remember that you are dust, and into dust you shall return.”
These are the words said to each person who stands at the altar and has ashes pressed onto their forehead in the form of a cross. The ashes used, are the result of burning the palms distributed the previous year’s Palm Sunday, which commemorates the journey of Jesus into Jerusalem prior to His Passion and death. Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent, a 40-day journey commemorating the journey of Jesus from being welcomed by His followers, to being crucified by those who feared Him. It ends at what is called the Triduum, (3 days-Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil), more on that later, we are just beginning Lent.
The palms were used by the Christians in that first century to welcome Jesus into town; we use similar palms today, to symbolically welcome Jesus into our hearts. So, by burning the palms, and using the ashes on Ash Wednesday, we not only recycle them, but we repeat the liturgical cycle all over again. We mark the beginning of Lent, our own personal journey, of trying to grow ever closer to Jesus . . . to accept Him ever more deeply into our hearts . . . by accepting this cross of ashes in remembrance of what He did for us and how much He loves us!
Perhaps Lent means actually cleaning out our heart to make room, or, more room for Him. These 40 days mirror Jesus’ time in the desert being tempted by Satan following His baptism. As we journey towards Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Jesus, we too, will be tempted. How will we hand those temptations? Where will we gain the strength to continually face temptations and to resist them?
Towards the end of Lent, on this year’s Palm Sunday, we will be given new palms to remind us of the ever continuing, ever-renewing cycle of remembering not only the life of Christ but offering a time to examine the journey of the past year and consider how we might prepare for the journey ahead.
Two thoughts came to me today.
First, remembering that I started as dust and will return to dust, but what will I do during the in-between time? If Christ and the Cross are at the center of my life, then I will be ushered into heaven to live with Jesus for eternity. That seems worthy of some sacrifice(s) from me during this earthly sojourn!
Second, the process of refining palms into ashes, is what fire provides. We too, will face times of trial that seem to ‘put us through the flames’, but, fire also purifies. We boil water to purify it; gold and silver are refined by fire, and, diamonds! So, there is beauty in the purified! That, too, seems worth pursuing. Perhaps it can make the process more meaningful while dealing with the pain of sacrifice?
Whether you are Christian or not, it wouldn’t hurt to set aside some time to do some heart-housecleaning and pondering the worth of some sacrifice for a period of time. A time of retreating from the often empty and hollow illusions and promises of the world, to do some soul-searching. This is what we are all about at Urban Sanctuary. Let us help equip you with some tools to help you navigate the journey ahead. We are faced with so much spiritual warfare now days . . . we need all the battle preparation and armor we can muster!
During these next 40 days, I will attempt daily to write a snippet of encouragement, or, perhaps even a bit of wisdom. There are several pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, works of charity, service to others, scriptural and spiritual reading, participating in the sacraments and almsgiving. I will address those individually in upcoming posts, as well as saints of the day, (so many of my favorites are featured in March), and spiritual exercises! I will share some pertinent scriptural passages with you, as well as quotes, and some of my favorite spiritual writers for you to explore.
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May God Bless you on your journey!