Ash Wednesday - ‘in a minute’
Ash Wednesday is the start of our Lent journey, ‘Ashing’ on this day is a reminder of our own mortality. The minister says to us words from Genesis 3:19, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.”
The saints who have gone before us often remind us that our hope isn’t in our achievements or length of days, but in Christ alone who transforms death’s ashes into new life. So, we are starting this series with this echo of God’s reminder to Adam because it touches us on a deep ‘who do you think you are’ level, by taking us back to creation and forward to redemption.
Let us begin our Lenten journey by offering ourselves afresh to Christ’s transformative work, and desiring to ‘Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.’
I wish you a faithful and renewing Lent.
Kelvin <><
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.
Genesis 3:19
Ash Wednesday is the start of our Lenten journey. ‘Ashing’ on this day is a reminder of our own mortality and the minister says to us
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.”
The saints who have gone before us often remind us that our hope is not in our achievements or length of days, but in Christ who transforms death into new life. Let us begin our Lenten journey by offering ourselves afresh to Christ’s transformative work, with a renewed desire to ‘Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.’
The words re-echo God's declaration to Adam and to us in Genesis 3:19 ‘By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. So, we are starting this series with this echo of God’s speech to Adam - taking us back to creation and forward to redemption. It has happened this way ever since the 6th Century. Today we launch the season of lent 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays).
The journey begins here - remembering (strangely) that I am dust and to dust I will return. – remembering – that I will die!
A strange starting place – ashes start the season of Lent.
Why should I think of my death when all around me yells LIFE and life to the full…. And didn’t Jesus promise ‘I have come that you may have life in abundance’ (John 10:10)? Why should my everyday life be interrupted by the reminder that one day I will die?
Matthew 6:19 challenges us to store up ‘treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is your heart will be also.’
But there is more!!
By remembering on Ash Wednesday or by thinking of my death makes me remember the death of my Lord. And that He died for me. My death will be the end of this perishable body - dust to dust but that will lead to a glorious resurrection – all because of the death that Jesus died for me.
Hear the Easter story again this year and see in the horror of his death, the death I should have died. How unjust is that!
Today I am remembering in the symbolism of the ashes; my death.
In looking at our death – and the ashes we can pray the words of the psalmist in Psalm 51
‘Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me, give me again the joy of your salvation and sustain me with your gracious spirit.’
Remember we are mortal even in the busyness of life, today, we choose to remember our death and Jesus’ death and by his grace, the first is lessened by the magnitude of the second.
Opening Prayer
Holy God, our lives are laid open before you: rescue us from the chaos of sin and through the death of your Son bring us healing and make us whole in Jesus Christ our Lord.
CofE Lent CollectPray Pointers
Pray for:
Samaritans, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other self-help organisations and those who need them
Our Social Workers, pray for people involved care of older people, people with mental health issues and special needs. Shaftesbury Society and others
Those working in Hospital Medical Admissions Units, for NHS staff working on bed management and the discharge process
Pray for students in the NHS who are training to be doctors, nurses and other Healthcare professionals
Prayer
“Jesus by your wounded feet direct our path aright. Jesus by your nailed hands move us to deeds of love. Jesus by your broken heart knit ours to yours.”
Richard Crawshaw (1613-49)
another Prayer
Lord God, who in Jesus Christ revealed your love for all people, help us in everything we say and do to express that divine love, sharing the Good News with conviction, openness and sensitivity; by the leading and enabling power of your Holy Spirit
Amen
