“Look! My sins are gone!”
Posted on February 23rd, 2012
I certainly don’t practice the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday because I enjoy it. The whole thing is awkward, for everyone. Except for the bald guys and the women who’ve pulled their hair back, you’ve got to move the bangs out of the way. Some nervously stand too far away from me, leaving me to gesture, “Move closer,” or I have to close the gap. Other people come up with a big smile – we are socially conditioned that the correct response is to smile back, but I refuse. This is not the time. I am marking these people for death. I hate that, because I love them.
But the worst thing about Ash Wednesday is marking the children. The adults—at least the non-smilers—get what’s happening. It’s good for them. But these children—dear God, no! Smearing the ashes on a sweet little child makes you realize even more what a monster, what an enemy death is.
Yet the children, in all their simplicity, often understand more than the adults. The mother of a little girl told me that her daughter this morning (the day after Ash Wednesday) pointed to her forehead and said, “Look! My sins are gone!”
The liturgical practice of the church—and the opportunity it presents for parents to hand over the faith—has taught her far more than I could with a thousand sermons. Children’s sermons? That’s the sermon: ashes, cross, you, Jesus, death, life, sins, forgiven.
The news of this little girl saying, “Look! My sins are gone!” makes everything worth it.
Tagged: Ash Wednesday, Ashes, Children, Lent
Please smile back. You are reminding me that I have nothing to fear from Death, because Life has handled it.
Hmm. I’ll think about it. It would seem to me like telling jokes at a funeral. I’ll preach the Gospel, the resurrection with full-throated vigor – but it has a different timbre.
More like laughing in his face. At least from my perspective. I do understand yours, though.
I remember you looking so solemn when putting ashes on, and I knew why.
Thanks for these wonderful thoughts, brother Christopher. I’ll be sharing this!
Interesting. I saw this as a mark of life eternal in heaven. Then again nothing of this tradition is found biblical. Possibly someone will share a scripture to correct me?
For starters, Jonah.
(Rev’d) Christopher S. Esget
Sr. Pastor
Immanuel Ev.-Lutheran Church and School (LCMS)
Alexandria, Virginia
703-549-0155 ext. 1530 | immanuelalexandria.org
It’s both: the ashes are a sign of mortality (“Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and to dust shalt thou return”), but in the sign of the cross, marked on one identifying as a penitent, thus, life.
But it’s not sacramental, just a custom. The key things are baptism and the supper, of course.
It is one of my favorite customs Pastor. Since I was a child it always felt as if I was “branded” – marked by Jesus Cross and forgiven.
Our assistant pastor (who preached at the evening service) talked about Christ the Shepherd marking His sheep. I thought it was a beautiful image – I’ll post the audio at our website in the next day or two.