“Remember, thou art dust…”

Today is Ash Wednesday, but many people (including many Catholics) are not sure why it is that we march into church and stand in line to have someone else rub dirt on our foreheads.  Why do you do it? I mean that question seriously.  Why do you participate in this ancient rite of ashes on the forehead?

I firmly believe and understand (for myself) that each of us needs to look at these church rites and come to a personal meaning of them for us, in our day and time.  So, one more time, why is it that you come to mass on this Wednesday, 40 days before Good Friday, and submit to having ashes rubbed onto your forehead?

As you pray about why you do this, let me give you some reference to consider.  In a land and time of false gods (materialism, vanity, TV, sports idols) do you consider it important to have some symbols of what you truly believe in?  I assume that you have symbols of other aspects of your life around you, like your cell phone, movie posters, jewelry, sports team hats or jerseys.  What do keep around that helps you reflect on your faith.  Ashes?

One symbol of faith in Christ that many Christians have with them is a cross.  The cross is used to remind you of the saving act of God for humanity and displaying it shows others you are a believer.  In a similar way, making the “sign of the cross” on yourself is a remembrance of the same saving act of Christ.

What do ashes remind you of?  In the time of the bible ashes were a symbol of mourning and penance.  In the strict sense of the word, repent (penance) means to “turn-around” and go in a different way.  Ashes therefore represented to people the grief of doing wrong and the desire to turn-around in life.  Ashes also symbolize that we are mortal, and as such, we will ultimately return to the Earth (dust) from which God created us and our spirit will (hopefully) be joined with God in Heaven.

I hope this helps you to reflect, consider and pray about the direction of your life, and also to make this wonderful tradition of accepting ashes on your forehead as an outward sign of your repentance from sin and belief in a saving Christ.