Ash Thursday!
3rd March 2022
Today we used a tradition at our Communion service usually used yesterday, Ash Wednesday. We used ash to make the sign of the cross on each other’s foreheads, saying the words:
Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
Turn away from sin and be faithful to God.
There are two actions that are mentioned in those words. The first is remembering – remembering that we are dust. Remembering that we are frail and fallible human beings. Remembering our littleness, our vulnerability.
It’s been interesting for me over the last few weeks, when I was quite unwell, coming face to face with my own vulnerability. It hasn’t been much fun, but it has been a sort of gift – reminding me of my dependence on other people, and helping me see that it’s not just when we give love that we allow God’s love to flow in the world, but also when we receive love.
Being aware of our physical frailty and weakness is one thing. Lent is an opportunity for us to face up to more than this – to face the aspects of our humanity which are damaged and damaging. What Brian Draper calls ‘the kind of ego in each of us that can start an argument, pick a fight, or worse’. We’re seeing that now on the world stage, and when we stop and remember, and notice, we see in our own lives and attitudes and behaviours a lot that seems more dust than glory.
In our reading today there we heard about how the lost son eventually stops his headlong rush into self destruction, and comes to his senses. He faces his situation and his need for help full on. He looks in the mirror.
Lent is an extended opportunity for us to look in the mirror, to notice how we are, and where we are out of true with ourselves, and with God. That may not be through things which would be on the usual list of sins. My danger is not so much over indulgence as perfectionism – judging myself and others. We will each have our own tendencies which come from our personalities. We don’t need to berate ourselves about these – just open our eyes to them and face them.
And then we are called to remember the one who loves us in this. The lost son remembered that even his father’s workers got enough to eat. He has begun to understand something of his father’s goodness , even though he doesn’t yet understand the full depth of it.
As we begin Lent we are reminded that our God is ‘slow to anger’ and ‘rich in mercy’. He looks on us, as Julian says, with pity not with blame. If we can remember this, it gives us courage to face ourselves more fully and truthfully – to allow the things that poison our lives to be drawn out – to allow us to find deep forgiveness, and healing, and grace – and to learn to look on ourselves with loving affection and acceptance. The six weeks of Lent can give us the opportunity to go round and round this cycle of grace, more and more deeply.
And from this place of forgiveness and grace we may find that we can begin to turn, like the lost son – change our direction, find a new and better way to live – one that comes from a change of heart.
God of compassion and mercy, give us the courage and the grace to stop and come to our senses, and see more deeply our own need for forgiveness and healing – and your never failing love…
We remember the terrible situation in Ukraine – and the people of Russia – and the places of conflict elsewhere in the world. We remember the great harm done by unrestrained ego and the lust for power. We pray Father that the vulnerable strength of love and the longing for peace may prevail…
Lord Jesus, help us to travel through this Lent with you – walking with you into the desert places of our inner selves, and being led out by you into ways of living more fully and sharing in your life more deeply, as we look towards the joy of Easter.