You are but dust... Ash Wednesday 2010

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Reston Virginia
Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Leslie C. Ferguson, Seminarian
Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 103:8-14; 2 Corinthians 5:20 b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

“He remembers that we are but dust…” More years ago than I care to admit my wife and I were at an Ash Wednesday service in California. The service had started like most of the Ash Wednesday services I had been to before that; just like we are getting started on the service today. I vividly remember the scene as it came time to impose ashes; the Rector began the ritual, dipping his thumb in the container of ashes, citing the formula at the imposition of ashes, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Except that he mixed up the formula with the portion of the Psalter we recited that day, “Remember that you are but dust.” And to compound the misstatement he put a pause into the middle of the recitation as he looked down to dip his thumb, making the statement, “Remember that you are but dust…” and started again; “Remember that you are but dust…” My wife leaned over and asked me, “is but dust like belly button lint?” We spent the rest of the time trying not to smirk every time he said that phrase – with little luck I might add.

Looking back, I might think that people thought that we were being disrespectful of the moment (and we may have been). I know that it is hard to find anything humorous in the Ash Wednesday service or the season of Lent. Many also fail to find a humorous story like that worshipful, holy, or sacred. But there is something to be said about the touch of humor and how that impacts our relationship with God and our community. It is interesting how that experience has stuck with me all these years and how I’m compelled to remember that day quite frequently. Not specifically because it is humorous but because it is a reminder of the day and of what Lent is about; not just taking things on or giving things up but making the season holy and sacred; preparing ourselves to live our lives as faithful believers and followers of Christ.

In a few moments Mother Jackie will ask us to spend time in silence as we prepare ourselves for the observance of a Holy Lent. Whether this is the first time you’ve been to an Ash Wednesday service or, like some this is one of countless services, by stopping and preparing yourself for the observance of a holy Lent you will be joining countless Christians around the world and throughout eternity who have affirmed their belief in Christ’s resurrection as the event that pays for our sin and separation from God’s intended kingdom. This is and will be an awesome event yet it can be one that is a little overwhelming.

In fact, I know people who choose not to attend Ash Wednesday services, not because they don’t believe that Christ lived, was tempted, and died for our sins. Rather, they choose not to attend because the gravity of the admonition can be overwhelming and a bit damning - too many reminders of a Roman Catholic or Evangelical “you’re a worthless sinner” mentality. But there’s more to living a holy life and observing a holy Lent than berating yourself as a “worthless sinner.” That’s not the implication of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. The fact that we are of worth, even though we are sinners, is the true reason that Christ will suffer through the coming weeks of Lent.

Let’s unpack the phrase “a holy Lent” a little to shed some light on where we should focus our attention during the upcoming season. First, the object of the phrase is the word “Lent” which the church sees as a time of preparation for Holy Week, Easter, and Jesus’ Ascension - pretty clear. The modifier in the phrase, “holy,” is where I think the focus of our attention should be directed. What does it mean to be holy, especially when most of our lives are less than holy or pure? To be holy, something needs to be set aside; made sacred or directed towards God; or made worshipful. I see this as something that doesn’t happen all at once; rather we become holy through practice and in relationship with God our creator, redeemer, and sanctifier.

Today’s lessons should be helpful as we move into a holy place and a holy relationship with God. But I find a mixed message between today’s scripture and what many people do on Ash Wednesday. We are called in scripture to not do things that aren’t the practice of our lives; not do things in a special way to bring attention to ourselves. Yet, what are our practices today? We place the marks of the cross on our foreheads that signifies our relationship with God to the world - not just those we are in relationship with but everyone who we meet for the rest of the day. Some are participating in a fast, maybe something that won’t be seen by others but I know that when I actually fasted two years ago my stomach was making so much noise by the end of the day that everyone on campus knew I hadn’t eaten anything in a while. Probably most notable and noticed is the fact that we have come to church at a time we wouldn’t normally come to church. And for many of us, we will have taken time from our normal routine to come here for service.

I know that I’ve been led to get focused on a portion of the scripture today that makes me miss the point of Ash Wednesday. That scripture tells me to do the opposite of the things that I have done today that will be seen and noted by others. Many focus on the admonition to not do things so that others will know what you are doing so that God in heaven will reward you for your faithful actions. Our gospel starts with Jesus telling his followers to, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Now we may not practice our piety for others to see but it would be unreasonable to believe that that outward sign would not be seen by others. We are called to do things for God to see so that God will reward us at our final accounting; so that we can build our relationship with God.

In the mix today we miss the invitation from God related by Isaiah to, “remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” Isaiah reminds us that we are supposed to fast, serve the Lord, and be humbled before God. But Isaiah also tells us to life the burden of our society, to return ourselves to a right relationship with God and our community. We’re supposed to restore ourselves and become the person that God calls us to be. We’re not called to be anything or live any other way than the way God made us to be.

We are supposed to proceed on our Lenten journey with an eye on God’s call; the way that we’ve been ordained to live in community with God, other Christians, and our world. That begins with being honest about who you are and what makes you who you are. It is through our honesty with God and our self that we begin to live a holy life; a life focused on being worshipful; on being set aside for God’s plan; and living in sacredness, always living life in search of God in the present moment.

Living our lives in an honest manner can and should encompass many different things. We are called to live our lives consistent with who we are. God wants us to be genuine with him and with others, both Christian and non-Christian. We should laugh, tell jokes, love, and share our joys with others and God. Likewise, we should cry, be emotion-filled, and push back when necessary. We should strive to be quiet in our soul, not so much without speaking or sounds but limiting the “noise” of our lives that gets in the way of our search for God’s true kingdom on earth. We will be expected to not carry extra or superfluous burdens, those things that are barriers to us living a life with God - this might be what it means to give up something during Lent. Likewise, we are expected to carry the load that God calls us to carry; to be intentionally burdened with the things that make God’s kingdom become present and recognized here on earth - this might be what it means to take something on during Lent.

This multi-faceted approach to our lives of faith is what we are called to do as we observe a holy Lent. Yet we are reminded that there is no specific (by rote) action that will get us “closer” to God with the exception of spending time with God. By spending time with God we become more attuned to the reality of God’s presence in our lives; in the mundane, in the ludicrous, and in the emotion. As we spend time with God we will naturally find ourselves begin to free ourselves from distractions - not all at once but as part of the process of maturing with God. We will begin to find our hearts and eyes being opened to the presence of God in our lives and in our communities. And we will find ourselves caring for all of God’s creation - not just others but ourselves. As we spend time with God we will find struggles, “road blocks,” challenges, laughter, and joy. This mix of emotions and reactions are the things that are sacred and holy in God’s kingdom.

May we be encouraged to live a holy Lent and begin our journey to a deeper relationship with God; with an eye towards the death and resurrection of Christ. My prayer is that this journey might be punctuated with silence, joy, self-reflection, challenge, and a sense of community and a communal journey. And may the sign of an ashen cross mark our soul with that holy cross and reminder of God’s presence in our lives and in our actions. May our journey be one that encourages us and others into a deeper relationship with God.

To God be the glory through his son Jesus. Amen!