Readings: Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.
Today we begin the holy season of Lent with the Ash Wednesday liturgy. Unlike Christmas, many people do not like the season of Lent. No decorations, no shopping, no Hallelujah. I heard about a baby being recently baptised with the name Hallelujah, I wonder what he will be called this season, maybe “Amen” or “Glory and praise.”
The words used as we impose ashes on ourselves are also not flattering words either.
Remember that you are dust and unto dust, you shall return (Gen 3:19).
Imagine reminding a nursing mother that she will return to dust or a young man just starting life, even the aged may not like to be told this. The alternative word seems more positive but not all the way too “Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15), it is also reminding us of something we may not like to think about.
Lent is a season to remember and to repent.
A time to be reminded through the symbol of ash and dust:
- Our originality (we are created by God from dust),
- Our vanity (no matter how good we look and graceful we are), we are dust and our glory comes only from God.
We are being turned inside out today and what is underneath is brought to the surface.
Ashes remind us of our frailty and sinfulness (ashes are a symbol of contrition – Job 42:3-6, Jer 6:26, Dan 9:3; Jonah 3:6; Luke 10:13, Heb 9:13).
It reminds us of the end of our mortality. But that is not the end of the story, the crosses traced on our forehead also reminds us that through the redemptive suffering and death of Christ, we can now access mercy and grace and through Jesus’ resurrection, death is no longer our finality, after death, there is hope of immortality for us.
As we receive Ashes today, let us see this season as an opportunity to remember the truth about who we really are and who we are called to be and to work on our relationship with God through meaningful prayers, properly motivated sacrifices and positive penance.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am dust and ashes and whatever is good in me is evidence of your glory in me, help me so to live that when dust shall return to dust, what is immortal in dust shall not be deprived of your presence forever, Amen.
Sermon Preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okami on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019.