Contemplating mortality on Ash Wednesday

Lent begins today, Ash Wednesday. 

 Many Christians take part in an Ash Wednesday service. For some, an Ash Wednesday service includes receiving the sign of the cross on the forehead or hand, drawn with ash mixed with oil. The words that are said to each recipient as the cross is drawn are something like this:
"Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.  
Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ."
'Remember you are dust...' is a stark reminder of our mortality and imperfections. It is an acknowledgement that we are human, not immortal and not perfect. It reminds us we are made of the same basic stuff as planet earth - our home.

 We receive the ash-drawn cross as a sign of repentance for the evil we humans have done and the good we humans have not done. Repentance is not only feeling sorry about sin. Acknowledging and lamenting sin is the start of a process. The process of repentance involves turning round, changing our attitude towards God and neighbour and being faithful to Christ by seeking to do things differently.

 As Wednesday and Lent is not about being made to feel miserable. It's a preparation for Easter, the celebration of Resurrection and new life. The words 'remember you are dust' have an echo of the 2nd story of creation in Genesis 2: 4b - 25 where God creates humankind from the dust of the ground. So dust may be thought of as a symbol of life as well as death.

 'Remember you are dust' also reminds me of Psalm 103, a song of thanksgiving for God's goodness, which includes these words:
"The Lord is merciful and gracious, 
slow to anger and abounding in love. 
He does not deal with us according to our sins, 
nor repay us according to our iniquities. 
For as the heavens are high above the earth, 
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 
as far as the east is from the west, 
so far he removes our transgressions from us. 
As a father has compassion for his children, 
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. 
For he knows how we were made: 
he remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103: 8 - 14

 For those who believe them and turn back to God, those words from Psalm 103 are reason to find joy on Ash Wednesday.

 Another reason for joy today is the symbolism of ash mixes with oil, used for the 'imposition of ashes'. Traditionally the ash is made by burning palm crosses distributed at last year's Palm Sunday. Those crosses are a victorious symbol that Christ died for the sins of the whole world. The ash is mixed with olive oil, a symbol (among others) of healing.
Holy God, 
our lives are laid open before you: 
rescue us from the chaos of sin 
and through the death of your Son 
bring us healing and make us whole 
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Common Worship: Ash Wednesday Additional Collect

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