We rise again from the ashes.
We begin our 40-day Lenten journey with ashes. Ashes remind us of our relationship with the earth. Human beings are made up of the same substance as the ground. We remember that we are dust and we will return to dust. In the Hebrew Scriptures ashes were used as a sign of sorrow and repentance for sin, as well as a sign of humility and mortality. The offering of ashes is an outward sign of an inward desire to come before God in humility. It is a time for reflection, self-examination, and repentance. It demonstrates our desire to draw closer to the God who loves us and calls us by name. God's invitation is, "Abide in me, as I abide in you". (John 15:4)
A Prayer for Ash Wednesday
We forget sometimes that ashes come from fire,
that this soft black powder was once a firm green frond,
bright and vibrant before it became dry and brittle,
stiff and fibrous before a flame transformed it into dust.
Every living thing submits to change.
Let’s not fear it.
From seed to plant, palm to ash,
this bit of the earth smudged on our foreheads today
was carried lovingly in the hands of the Creator.
What fires will we step into this Lent?
What new forms will our souls take
when we encounter the holy blaze of the Living God?
We are—it is true—ash to ash and dust to dust,
But whether in youth or in old age, in life or in death,
let us be assured,
we are held, and we are God’s.
Amen.
Lyrics:
We rise again from ashes, from the good we've failed to do.
We rise again from ashes, to create ourselves anew.
If all the world is ashes, then must our lives be true,
an offering of ashes, an offering to you.
We offer you our failures, we offer you attempts,
the gifts not fully given, the dreams not fully dreamt
give our stumblings direction, give our visions wider view
an offering of ashes, an offering to you.
Then rise again from ashes, let healing come to pain,
though spring has turned to winter, and sunshine turned to rain,
the rain we'll use for growing and create the world anew
from an offering of ashes, an offering to you.
Thanks be to the Father, who made us like himself,
thanks be to the Son, who saved us by his death;
thanks be to the Spirit, who creates the world anew,
from an offering of ashes, an offering to you.
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