Ash Wednesday

Remember that you were...separated from Christ, alienated...having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the  blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a hold temple in the Lord. In him you also being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:12-22)

What is the meaning of Ash Wednesday? Today marks the first day of Lent, a time to prepare for Easter. In the Old Testament, sinners poured ashes on their heads and wore sack cloth to indicate regret for their sin: "Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42: 6) Since the Middle Ages, in imitation of the Old Testament books of the Law, Christians likewise wear ashes on their head to mark the beginning of Lent and demonstrate their repentance. In the 10th century, rather than sprinkle the head with ashes, Christians began wearing ashes on the forehead in the shape of the cross. The cross give us a glimpse of the joy that soon will be celebrated when we acknowledge the hope and new life that are ours because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection three days later.

During the application of ashes at Ash Wednesday services in our time, the pastor will usually recite, "For dust you are and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). What is the purpose of wearing ashes in our day and age? And, why would we want to be reminded that we will die? How can this give us any consolation? The symbolic practice displayed on Ash Wednesday calls to mind that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Each of us is in need of forgiveness and hope. The ashes and Scripture remind us that we will surely die. Yet, the cross points us to the forgiveness that can be ours through Jesus Christ who cleanses us from sin and releases us from the threat of eternal damnation.

When teaching at a local college, some of my students came to class early Ash Wednesday morning with the imprint of the cross still on their foreheads. Some Christians leave ashes on their forehead through Ash Wednesday to publicly confess their sins and demonstrate that everyone is sinful, that each of us is in need of forgiveness and to proclaim that we are forgiven and made new through faith in Jesus Christ. Today, each of us can be open about our frailty and honestly admit that we are all guilty of sin. Every human will experience death. And, each of us is in need of a Savior.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2 that without God, we have no hope in the world (v. 12). Yet now, because of Christ's love for us, "in Christ Jesus [we] who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (v. 13). Just as we have sinfulness in common, "through Christ, we are united in faith. We are no longer separated from each other and from God but are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."

Dear God, whether or not I openly wear ashes today on my forehead, I recognize that I am sinful and in need of Your forgiveness. Thank You that through You and by Your Spirit, I am united with other believers. Because of Your sacrifice, I am no longer separated from You. You have promised me eternal life with the "saints and members of Your household."  I want to open my heart to You so that it is a "dwelling place for God by the Spirit." As I prepare for Easter, I remember the redemption You extend to me and the hope You give all who trust in Your mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name. Amen

WWJD

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3: 8-17).

I was looking through my closet the other day trying to decide which clothes I no longer wear, which ones are out of date, and what I'd be willing to part with to make more room in my closet. What for?! More clothes, of course! The process became difficult as I mused that, although these items hadn't been worn in the longest time, "I like that blouse!" and, "That might be back in style again some day!" Yet, when I look at the styles that young women are wearing in magazines, I am skeptical and wonder--"Could I follow that fad? I don't think that style suits me. Maybe I'll just hang on to the old clothes and be boring!"

Do you remember the WWJD fad? What Would Jesus Do? We don't see this phrase displayed much anymore. Maybe it's out of touch to wonder what Jesus would do? And, how do we even know what Jesus would do? I don't know that He would care about my clothing style.

Paul reminds us: "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2: 4-7). Notice Paul's encouragement to "have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus"; Jesus did not worry about himself and his clothing. He took on the form of a man so that you and I could relate to Him. Christ put others before himself, and this is what it means to do what Jesus would do.

If we look at Colossians 3, Paul exhorts us to live in harmony with each other, ridding our lives of anger, bad language, gossip, etc., and instead to clothe ourselves with "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" all while having gratitude in our hearts.

I did not make a New Year's resolution. But, as I read these passages, I realize how often I fall short of what Jesus would do. I want to clothe myself in a way that glorifies my Savior and emulates his example.

Dear God, You did not assert Your right on earth to live as a king. Instead, You came to us as a servant. I ask You to help me wear Your clothing of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help me not to look at what I don't have but rather realize how blessed I am to be Your child. Fill me with gratitude and teach me to put the interests of others above my own. In Jesus' Name. Amen