Wednesday, March 5th
Ash Wednesday
Eric Eaton
As one of two Catholics growing up in a VERY Presbyterian school, I used to dread Ash Wednesday. “Mom, do we have to go before school? Can’t we go after so no one will see it?” Being in elementary school is already awkward enough, and as we know, 3rd graders can be a little critical and have very long memories. Why would I want to be reminded annually that I am set aside from the others, marked, different, and unique? I also dreaded the daylong question of “What is that on your head?” from students and teachers alike who would try to remove it.
Today, I have grown to be enthusiastic about Ash Wednesday. Not just for the chance to visit our beloved Chapel at noon on a busy workday but to make another sign to the devil that he has lost yet again. Signs and symbols are important to Christianity. Many of the signs we make and use today were formed alongside the early church and were often used and displayed at the risk of death as Rome and other powers tried to control the unstoppable spread of Christ’s Good News. The imposition of ashes by our priests, done after they mark each other and say the phrase “remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” from our Book of Common Prayer, can be morbid and somewhat jarring to the newcomer in our pews. The idea of dying and returning to the ground to become “dust” causes many to shudder. This has perhaps kept many away from Ash Wednesday and Lent, even observant Anglicans who may not fully understand the significance of what we are symbolizing. But, like many other moments in our Christian walk through the Bible, a Voice is telling us, “Fear not. For I am with you…”
The One who created the world out of love, who created mankind from the dust of that world, the One who redeemed that world through love, and the One who will come again to erase wrong from this world is there. Every time we make signs like the ashes, we aren’t bemoaning death or being morbid about Christ’s crucifixion. No. We, as one body, are joyfully proclaiming that death has no hold. Death is not the end. Death, which will see us return to dust, will not be able to hold us in that dust, for our souls will soar unbounded to be with the One to whom we belong! It is us standing at the chasm of death, peering into the black void, and boldly proclaiming, “Yet even at the grave, we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!”. At our baptism, many of us were sprinkled with water and marked with chrism, or a pastor said the blessing of the Trinity when we were immersed in water. Regardless of how you were baptized, you were forever marked as Christ’s own at that moment. At our death, many of us will make the sign of the cross and have that same Holy oil applied. The Christian life can often come full circle through signs and symbols.
So, Christian, boldly make your signs of faith and assurance. And while chrism and ashes can be washed away, know that God’s mark upon us is everlasting. Proudly display your ashes this day, knowing that the symbol upon your forehead is the same as on that spotless banner Christ holds as He leads us onward to the ultimate victory. For truly, we are set aside from the others, marked, different, and unique. And thanks be to God for that.
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