This morning, we (myself and my daughters) were sitting in the car at the corner of our street waiting for the school bus. (Personal comment: It's just been too cold here in S. Texas this winter!) After a couple of minutes, I told Abby, "Tonight we will do the Imposition of Ashes." And Abby replied, "You mean when we put that black stuff on our heads?...Yeah!!!" For some reason, Abby likes that. I think it's because the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday is something strange and unique and done only once a year, thus she remembers it. Then I asked her, "Do you know why we do that?" (blank stare) "To remind us we will die."
That is what Ash Wednesday is all about. It is the day beginning the season of Lent in which we remember who we are: sinners doomed to death - "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return." We are sinners without our own righteous leg to stand on. There is nothing left but death for us. But Ash Wednesday is also a day to remember where to focus our hope: the cross of Christ. The ashes are drawn on foreheads in the shape of a cross for a reason - to remind us who removed the sting of death for us by becoming death for us: Christ.
So I encourage you today to remember - remember who you are and in whom is your only hope.
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