The inherent goodness of our bodies has not been obliterated by sin, though it has been tarnished and twisted. Of course many good things come from our bodies, including new human life, fulfilling work, loving embraces, and acts of charity. Often, our bodies are the instruments of sin, rather than of God-honoring work and worship. Throughout our lives, our dusty bodies remind us of our mortality, when they get sick, or when they work imperfectly, or when they age, or when they stop working altogether. Like Adam, we have come from dust, and to dust we will return. In time, he would return to the dust from which he was made. Whereas, Adam once enjoyed the reality of deathless life in God’s perfect creation, now his body would die.
When church leaders place ashes on people’s foreheads, they usually say something like, “From dust you were made, and to dust you will return.” This is a quotation from Genesis 3:19, a verse where God delivered to Adam the bad news of what his sin had brought about.
But the central meaning of these has to do with our humanness, mortality, weakness, and fallenness. I discovered that there is a wide array of Ash Wednesday traditions and practices. So I quickly had to learn something about this holy day, since I was expected to lead the service. In fact, Irvine Presbyterian Church sponsored an Ash Wednesday service, complete with the imposition of ashes (placing ashes on people’s foreheads). Ash Wednesday and Lent were for my Catholic friends, or so I thought.īut, almost two decades ago, I found myself as the senior pastor of a Presbyterian church that did recognize Ash Wednesday and Lent. In fact, I grew up with almost no awareness of either Ash Wednesday or Lent, even though I was raised in a strong Christian family and church. Nothing in Scripture requires acknowledgement of these special days. Some Christians do not recognize Ash Wednesday or Lent, which is just fine. It is a day to begin the season of Lent, a time for reflection, penitence, and preparation for Easter. It is a day to remember our humanness and mortality. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”Īsh Wednesday is a day many Christians set aside as a special day. "By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made.
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