Theme: Let the ashes work on our dry rocky surface of hearts.
Scripture reading: Jl 2:12-18; Ps. 50:3-6, 12-14, 17; 2 Cor. 5:20-6:2; Mt. 6:1-6, 16-18
The ash Wednesday marks the beginning of season of Lent. It is one of the important days in the liturgical calendar. There are many changes we will find in the liturgical celebrations in the church such as Gloria and alleluia will be omitted in the liturgies, the liturgical colour will be purple. There will be constant call to change and repent in the liturgy of the word. One of the striking features of today’s celebration is the use of ashes.
The usage of ashes comes from the old testament (ancient Jewish culture). The ashes symbolize mortality, our physical and spiritual weakness, grief, mourning and penance. There are many references we have in the Old Testament. Mordokai in the book of Ester, put on sackcloth and ashes when he heard the decree of King Aphasuerus of Persia to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire (Est. 4:1). Job repented over his arguments with God in sackcloty and ashes (Jb 42:6). Daniel exhorted his readers by saying, “I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes” (Dn. 9:3). Jonah also preached repentance to the people of Ninevah. Their king covered himself in a sackcloth, and sat in the ashes (Jon 3:5-6).
Jesus also gave reference to the ashes in one of his teachings. He referred to towns that refused to repent of sin although they had witnessed miracles. He said, “if the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have reformed in sackcloth and ashes long ago (Mt. 11:21)
The early Christians writers also gave reference to the usage of ashes for the repentance and Lenten preparation. Tertullian (+220) prescribed penitent ‘live without joy in the roughness of sackcloth and the pile of ashes. Eusebius, early church historian wrote that the apostate came before Pope Zephyrinus clothed in sackcloth and ashes begging for forgiveness.
The practice carried forward in our liturgical celebrations till this date. As we grow, sometimes we fail to know the significance of the rite. Many people take ashes home. They are freely distributed. They are added in the water and drink as having miraculous power. This not our faith.
The intention of putting ashes on head was a sign of our repentance. The church calls us to repent like Prophet Jonah, Job, Mordokai and Daniel and the same time believe in the Gospel. The only repentance will not save us but our faith in the Gospel i.e. Jesus Christ will save us. Pope Francis tells us in the Lenten message of 2020 that we need to keep our eyes focused on the crucified Christ. You will be saved. When you confess sins and believe in the mercy of God. You will be free from the guilt. This is the most opportune time, favorable time. We should not take it for granted.
The ashes should therefore work within us as a manure. The ashes should become a sign of hope and abundance. A farmer in the winter season cuts down branches. He gathers all dry leaves and just before the monsoon burns them in the field. He then spreads the ashes all over and waits for the first rain. He known the seeds will get necessary vitamins from the ashes. The mother church now put ashes on the rocky, dry lands of our lives, in other words on our sinful lives. The ashes are like a manure on which the mother church is going to work for next 40 days of lent. Can we allow these ashes to work on dry-hard surface of hearts that we may produce fruits in abundance? May God bless us all.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
