The Hope in Ash Wednesday

I think Lent truly is one of the most beautiful liturgical seasons.

Today is Ash Wednesday. Many denominations practice Ash Wednesday. As a Catholic, I am drawn to it. When I was younger, it was a little scary – the priest usually put black ashes on my head and recited, “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” It seemed like a heavy thing to a child.

I’ve also heard, “Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel."

Either way, the fullness of the message is clear: we all will die. We all have souls that are tarnished by sin ~ sin as dark as ash.

Yet there is such hope in that ash.

The priest will make a cross on my forehead. A cross. This ash is not about death, but rather the transition from death unto new life. And, in that, dear friends, I place my hope.

Lent is a long journey. For me, it is a chance to grieve along with Mary as she prepares for the cruel death of her son. It is a time for me to reflect on my sins – the sins that Jesus took as his own and died for – and to not only ask for mercy, but to make a concerted effort to change. It is a time to revisit my prayer life – to reevaluate how my spiritual conversation with God is going.

And, though my children and I will bury our symbolic alleluia banner and make our decorations sparse for these 40 days, we shall not lose the hope that comes with the journey. For, at the end of these 40 days, there is an empty tomb and, with that, there is a beautiful mercy.