I Abhor My Words Seeing That I Am Dust and Ashes — Job 42:6
We all have our favorite services. Mine is Thanksgiving. We also have some services that are not on the top of our list. For me, it is Ash Wednesday. It probably has something to do with that part where we hear, “ Remember that you are dust, and dust you shall return.”Do they have to remind me?
This year I decided to try to tackle my feeling of dread at attending the service. I pulled out my trusty Book of Common Prayer and read the entire service. My advancing years have taught me to not to take words or events out of context, and after reading the entire service I believe that my dread was a result of violating of my own admonition.
There is a lot there. Here are two gems:
Dear People of God:….It was also a time (speaking of the Lenten Season) when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution….
Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life….
A complete immersion in the Ash Wednesday service requires humility. Job’s statement requires real humility. God calls us to humility. The Lenten season helps us find that humility by recognizing that we need God. It is God that can help us overcome our shortcomings. This Lent we pray, practice self-denial, read and meditate on God’s word. In so doing we humbly kneel and are restored.
Now if I can just get over that “ dust you shall return” part.
Webb
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