The Ashen Way

Pastor’s Epistle—February, A.D. 2016 C

The rhythm of the Church year is one of fast and feast. In Advent we prepare ourselves for Christmas by attempting to quiet our lives in the midst of holiday hustle and bustle, waiting to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord until Christmas Eve. Lent is a similar season of preparation and penitence, as we walk with our Lord toward Jerusalem, toward the Cross, and ultimately toward the open, empty tomb.

We all know that Lent is traditionally a time for giving something up; whether we manage that for 40 days or not is another story. Just as Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, and as the people of Israel wandered for 40 years before crossing the River Jordan to enter the Promised Land, so would those desirous of joining Christ’s Church first fast and seek instruction for 40 days before entering into Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection through the waters of Baptism at the Easter Vigil. It soon became the practice of the entire Church to fast alongside these proselytes in solidarity.

Lent is a time to remember our mortality. As we are baptized into Christ Jesus, we are baptized into His Cross. Someday we, too, shall lie in the tomb, and no amount of worldly possessions or earthly power can prevent that. On Ash Wednesday, at the beginning of Lent, we receive the imposition of ashes upon our foreheads as a biblical sign of mourning, and as a reminder of our own mortality: “Remember, mortal, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Someday we will die. Someday all the things that now seem so important, all the silly stresses and anxieties, will fall to dust and ash. But just as the number 40 represents the birth of something new, so shall our 40-day journey to the grave culminate in the new life of Jesus’ Resurrection.

That’s what’s so wonderful about Lent. It isn’t a time to be morbid or macabre. Nor can it be easily commercialized like so many of our other holidays and seasons. Lent is when we re-center ourselves, refocus ourselves, on what is good and true and beautiful. Life is so much more than food, and human dignity so much greater than our possessions. Lent reminds us of Jesus’ own words: “You are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.” Let us choose the better part.

Join us this Lent as we walk with Jesus, along with all who would be baptized into His Body, towards the Passion of Holy Week and the joys of His Easter Resurrection. We begin on Ash Wednesday, February 10th. Ashes will be available for imposition in the Mills Café from 7:00-8:00 a.m., and again from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday worship with Holy Communion will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Wednesday night vespers will continue throughout Lent until Holy Week.

Jesus’ march to conquer death has begun. Let us heft our crosses and follow Him.