Ash Wednesday

And pray to God to have mercy upon us
And pray that I may forget
These matters that with myself I too much discuss
Too much explain
Because I do not hope to turn again
Let these words answer
For what is done, not to be done again
May the judgment not be too heavy upon us…

Lord, I am not worthy
Lord, I am not worthy

but speak the word only.

--T.S. Eliot, from his poem Ash Wednesday

Today is the beginning of Lent, the day when Christians mark their heads with a cross of ashes. In the early church, those who had sinned and fallen out of favor with the community were able to reenter into the church (along with the new Christians who were preparing to be baptized) during the period of Lent. As a sign of their status, the candidates wore a cross of ashes, the open symbol of their penitence.

In the modern celebration of Lent, we recognize the truth of what St. Paul wrote, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Lent is a time to reorient ourselves to God. We wear the ashes to acknowledge that we have sinned, but also to show that there is hope for us. We are preparing to die to our old ways and come out new in the end. We are preparing to move closer to God.

-- Lisa