On Ash Wednesday ashes are “imposed” in a solemn ritual at
masses across the world. The ceremony is unlike any liturgical action performed
throughout the rest of the Church’s year.
The ashes are made from the palm crosses that were blessed
and handed out the previous Palm Sunday. They are collected and burned and the
remains are ground up into powder. I make my own each year.
During the Mass the ashes are blessed by the priest before
they are “imposed”. In a procession people step forward and the priest puts the
ashes on the forehead in the shape of a cross, saying, “Remember that you are
dust and to dust you shall return.” This is taken from Genesis 3 v 19.
What does the ash
symbolise?
1. Death: We are reminded of our mortality, for when we
die our bodies decompose, or “they return to dust”. So we hear Abraham say to
God “I am but dust and ashes” in Genesis 18:27. Whether death is just around
the corner or many years hence, one thing is certain, we are going to die! So
on Ash Wednesday we are asked to face our mortality, but not in a morbid and
hopeless way, but in the faith of Christ crucified – which is why the ashes are
imposed with a cross. Christ has died and redeemed us so that we have real
hope. Yes we will die, but by the grace of Christ we can live beyond this
death.
And indeed is death is coming we need to be prepared for it.
Let death not catch any of us unprepared! Let us be prepared by living God’s
ways.
2. Repentance:
When the prophet Jonah warned the Ninevites that God was going to visit
judgement upon them for their wickedness (their depravity and corruption) the
people of Ninevah covered themselves with sackcloth and ashes as a sign of
their repentance – they showed visibly that they were turning away from their
evil ways.
So ashes are a plea to God for mercy, pardon and
forgiveness. And they are also a public confession of our sin. Other people can
see that we admit out sinfulness publicly, but also crucially that we bring
them to the cross of Christ. We are sorry for our sins but we know they can
only be forgiven through the cross of Christ, the grace He won for us once for
all.
(Tip: If someone comments on your ashes, use the opportunity
to explain to them something of your faith and why you do it.)
So we begin Lent by publicly saying sorry for our sins, and
that we want to use Lent to correct our faults, purify our hearts and control
our desires – and thus to grow in holiness, and be better prepared to celebrate
Easter with joy filling our hearts.
Fr Ian 16th
February 2015
