ASHES

Ash Wednesday Reflection Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

As I was preparing for Ash Wednesday yesterday, I brought the old palm leaves to burn, knowing that they would become the ashes used for this sacred occasion. After the leaves had burned down, I went to gather the ashes. But as soon as I reached to collect them, the wind came and blew most of them away. I could hardly collect any. Thankfully, Fr. Burke had saved the previous year's ashes, ensuring we could proceed with the tradition.

Though these ashes are small and simple, they carry a profound message. In the end, it seems that everything will be blown away like the ashes. Like the ashes scattered in the wind, the things of this world—wealth, recognition, success—are fleeting. It seems that only ashes remain. Everything we cling to in this world is temporary.

A priest I know once shared that he visits the cremation center every month as a reminder of the inevitable truth that one day, he too will be brought to that place, and his body will turn to ashes like others.

Is it true that everything we have done will fade away like ashes? Is it true that in the end, only ashes remain? If everything turns to ashes, why must we give up, pray, or fast, as the readings today tell us? If everything passes away, why do we need to do good things? If heaven and earth are passing away, what will remain?

There must be something that transcends the ashes, something beyond our mortality, something that genuinely endures—something that remains forever, even when our earthly form ends. What is it?

God and His works remain forever. The truth is that we are not only created for the temporary or the passing. We are created for eternity. We were created for everlasting life. We inherit mortal bodies, but we are given immortal souls that last forever. We were created for immortality in the end. But all of this is the work of God, not us. The key is that what belongs to mortality will pass away and turn to ashes, but what belongs to God remains forever. We are meant to belong to God.

Brothers and sisters, as the priest imposes the ashes on our foreheads today, he says, "Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return." These words remind us of the fleeting nature of our mortality. They call us to recognize that everything we accumulate in this life—no matter how important it may seem—will one day return to dust.

But, brothers and sisters, this day, this season of Lent, is not just about mourning our mortality or acknowledging our sinfulness. It is also a season of hoping for everlasting resurrection in Jesus Christ.

So, as we begin this holy season of Lent, let us turn away from what belongs to mortality and renew our hearts in preparation for the immortal, glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us live as those who are destined for eternal life and trust that the ashes we receive today are not just symbols of our mortality but also of the new life we have in Christ.

In this Year of Hope, let us be transformed by the grace of God, who calls us to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him. Let us enter the season of Lent with our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, embrace the call of Lent to live as people of hope, knowing that we are created for immortality, not mortality, for Christ, has died for our mortality.

If today you hear His voice, Harden not your hearts. Amen.

I. Introduction: Personal Reflection on Ashes

Reflection on the process of preparing for Ash Wednesday by burning old palm leaves and collecting the ashes.

The unexpected wind scattering most of the ashes, symbolizing the fleeting nature of life and material things.

Fr. Burke’s foresight in saving last year's ashes, allowing the tradition to continue.

II. The Fleeting Nature of Earthly Things

The ashes symbolize the transient nature of wealth, recognition, and success.

The reality that all things in this world, like the ashes, are temporary and will one day fade away.

Reference to a priest who regularly visits a cremation center as a reminder of mortality.

III. The Question of Meaning

Reflecting on the apparent futility of earthly endeavors:

If everything fades to ashes, why engage in good deeds, prayer, or fasting?

Why should we live rightly if everything eventually turns to dust?

IV. The Eternal Truth: What Remains

Despite the passing of earthly things, something remains—God and His works.

We were created for eternity, not just the temporary.

Our mortal bodies will return to dust, but our immortal souls are destined for everlasting life with God.

What belongs to God, who is eternal, is what remains forever. We are meant to belong to God.

V. The Ash Wednesday Invitation

The priest's words: "Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

A reminder of the temporary nature of our mortality.

Call to reflect on the futility of accumulating worldly things.

VI. A Season of Hope: Beyond Mortality

Lent is not just about recognizing our mortality and sinfulness but also about embracing the hope of eternal life in Christ.

The call to renew our hearts and live with the hope of resurrection, beyond the ashes of mortality.

VII. Living as People of Hope

The call to live as those destined for eternal life.

Trusting that the ashes we receive are symbols not only of our mortality but also of new life in Christ.

Emphasizing the importance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent as ways to transform and grow in faith.

Encouragement to enter Lent with the perspective of hope, trusting in God's grace to deepen our relationship with Him.

VIII. Conclusion: The Call to Transformation

A final call to embrace the grace of God during this season of Lent.

In this Year of Hope, let us live as people of hope, remembering that Christ died for our mortality, and we are created for immortality.

A reminder from Scripture: "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts."

Amen.