Were We Trying to Prove Something With Those Ashes Yesterday?

"Lord, may all that I do today be prompted by your grace, sustained by your love and guided by your wisdom."

So what did it really mean that we received those ashes yesterday?  What was the reason that we came to church and received those ashes on our foreheads?  Were they for God? No, they weren't for God. In Isaiah 58:4-5, God is pretty clear when he tells Isaiah, "What I want from you is not sackcloth and ashes. I don't want you sitting around looking miserable. I want you to get up and DO something.  Something good. Feed the hungry, Clothe the naked. House the homeless. Give to the poor.  CHANGE THE WORLD! THAT is the kind of religious offering I'm looking for." Does God want to see something?  Yes, but it's not just ashes on our foreheads. He wants us to get busy; doing God's work in the world. It's about linking our internal spiritual lives to our actions.

So, why the ashes? Why do we do something so visible?  They are a reminder of humility and honesty. Humility is about being grounded in the truth of who we are:  finite, flawed, dependent on God and completely, utterly, totally loved by God! No matter who we are and no matter what we've done in our life.

As we begin our Lenten Journey, we accept ashes as a sign of penitence and mortality and the truth of who we are and whose we are. I invite you to spend this Lent learning to trust that God is gracious and kind and forgiving and merciful and that no matter what humans think of us, it isn't as important as our relationship with God and what we do for others because we are loved by God.  Take on some discipline this lent that's sole action is for the purpose of pleasing God or give up something to make room in your life for God's Spirit to come and move around in you.  Focus your attention and your longing on God. God wants to be our reward for that focus and longing. Let's not settle for anything less this Lent.


PRAYER:  Dear God, I believe that in giving us your Son, you have given us everything.  In response to that Gift, I will make room in my heart and life so that my focus will be upon you dear Lord. I will not allow myself to settle for anything less than you. Amen.