Day One – Ash Wednesday

“you are dust and to dust you shall return.” (Gen 3: 19)

God spoke these words to Adam and Eve after the fall of mankind.  He was banishing them from the Garden of Eden.  They had forfeited their relationship with God and therefore their life without death.  From this point they would live with pains and sorrows rather than the life God had intended for them.

The Jewish people used ashes and sackcloth to show their sorrow for their sins and to plead for forgiveness.  They would wear sackcloth, a harsh uncomfortable cloth and cover their head with ashes.  Today, the Catholic Church continues the use of ashes to indicate sorrow and penitence.  Ashes in the shape of a cross are placed on the forehead of the faithful.

These ashes are to remind us that we too are from dust and we shall return to dust.  The words spoked and the ashes are given reflect those spoken by God to Adam and Eve, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

This begins the forty days of lent.  A period of fasting and sorrow for our sins and shortcomings.  A time to seek atonement and renew our relationship with God.  Confession of our sins is expected during this period and an effort to amend our lives to live more in line with that of a people of God.  Even though we each are aware that we will continue to sin, we use this time to try to do better at avoiding sin.

We also look to the crucified Jesus as the cost of our sins.  During Lent we focus more on the passion and death of our Lord in recognition of the price our sins cost Him.  While we are anxious for the resurrection celebrated on Easter Sunday, it’s important to remember the price He paid and the suffering He endured on our behalf.

I’m always saddened by the number of those who come to receive their ashes yet are rarely, if ever, in Mass on a regular basis.  They are easy to recognize, they are the ones who are unsure of how the service in conducted and what is expected of them.

I’m saddened but yet hopeful that maybe this is the year and this is the Ash Wednesday that will touch their heart and bring them home to God.