“From the Dust You Came, To the Dust You Shall Return”
Ash Wednesday 2022
Ash Wednesday is about happiness. More biblically speaking, it is about blessedness. To be blessed is to be happy, according to Scripture. We heard from several passages that also teach this, but give definition to what “happiness” or “blessedness” is. Joel; 2 tells God’s people to call a fast…in anticipation of the Blessed Holy Spirit. In Matthew 6 Jesus does not condemn us for seeking after things in this life…but he tells us to seek first God’s righteousness, where true joy resides. In 2Corinthians 6.9-10 we are reminded that Paul underwent great distress. “As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”
Ignatius of Loyola said “Sin is unwillingness to trust God that all he wants is your happiness.” God wants you to be happy and Lent affords us the time to shed the weights and distractions that so easily entangle and take us off the path toward that eternal blessedness.
The world beckons you to find your happiness in it. Repentance and faith are God’s means to pursue lasting happiness. We look to God and his ways as our path to happiness. We must be shaped through the crucible of suffering to burn out the assumptions and the weight we have carried. Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote: “Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart.”
Have you ever moved? Ashley and I moved to Minneapolis from Raleigh. We were loaded down. Even had stuff in the basement of her grandparents’ house. Arduous. Worry. Anxiety.
Each time we moved, we learned that we needed to give away. To sell. To offload what we had gathered like burrs on a wool coat.
Ash Wednesday affords us this opportunity.
We impose ashes. Ashes remind us that we are mortal. I was reading this morning from Psalm 49. It’s a reminder of God’s statement to our first parents after their rebellion (Gen. 3.19). And the Preacher of Ecclesiastes tells us the same (Ecc 3.20).
We impose ashes. The Christian is one who is able to recognize that everything is a gift. Oftentimes we distract ourselves with our hurry in an affirmation of our autonomy and ability to be the captain’s of our own ships. It takes a lot of breaking to come to the persistent living out of our ashes. So the imposition of ashes is a reminder that you and I submit to receiving this reminder. Like a good teacher that focuses our attention on a key component in a story. Having ashes imposed on our foreheads forces us to remember that we are made of dust and to the dust we will return.
We impose ashes. Some have argued that we ought not do such public displays of devotion because it goes against Jesus’ command in Matthew 6.17: “But when you fast…wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” The difference is that Jesus is speaking about private devotions not being used in a way to earn public favor. The difference is that we, as a community of believers, are allowing our bodies to be marked as a display to the world we are mourning. Therefore, what we are doing is more analogous to Jesus’ declaration in Matthew 9.15: “The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” We are doing this together. Like the fasting of the city of Nineveh. We are fasting together. We are mourning together. We are reminding each other and the world that this world is not our comfort in life.
Invitation & Challenge
Do not feel compelled to have ashes imposed on your forehead. This is an opportunity to join with others in public devotion. But do not feel that you must. Like the Lord’s Supper offered each Sunday, this is offered to you.
Historically, the church fasted everyday of the 40 days of Lent—eating in the evening. You may do this if you wish.
As a member of Redeemer, I want to encourage you to fast each Friday. Begin at sundown on Thursday and break your fast on Friday at sundown. Use the time to pray for revival in our church and city. Historically, this meant only water. I will be doing water and coffee.
Use this time to be reconciled to anyone you have been harboring bitterness or resentment or anger in your heart. As for forgiveness from those you have sinned against. If you need help with this, please reach out to me and I can help in hearing your confession and helping you make amends.