
"Remember, oh man, that you are dust and to dust you shall return."
We used to go to New Orleans on business. And there Ash Wednesday means Mardi Gras is over. My contact with the people there made me think in those days that New Orleans was a city that equally enjoyed both sinning and repenting.
We Lutherans are trying to figure out what to do with Ash Wednesday. We come from a tradition of evening weekly mid week Lenten services. It's hard to get Lutherans out during the week any more, especially in the evening. Our pastors have turned regular mid week Lenten services over to the confirmation class and their parents, which lacks any satisfaction for anyone else. Ash Wednesday, though, is a full service. Last night's was painfully long and showed our lack of focus.
Down the street at the Roman Catholic church, it was standing room only all day long. Ash Wednesday is a day of holy obligation for them. And the steady influx of Hispanics, legal and illegal, into Oregon also swells their ranks.
Yesterday, I planted a batch of Sweet Peas. And I think that action might best reflect the message of Ash Wednesday. Both are governed by Spring. For Sweet Peas, flowers are sure to follow. For Ash Wednesday, Easter is sure to follow.
"Thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"
1 comment:
Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation. Catholics are supposed to fast, however, and abstain from meat.
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