Johnny and Hannah

Ash Wednesday hits us squarely between the eyes, forcing us to face mortality and sinfulness. Amidst the absence of this tradition in my churchmanship, the litany of penitence is worthy of engaging with. It is something that takes our breath away, or should. It is a tough day, but take heart!

This is one day in the calender of faith that won’t fall into the clutches of commerce. There aren’t any Clinton cards celebrating sin and death; no shop windows are decked out with sackcloth and ashes.

On Ash Wednesday we come to kneel, to pray, and to ask God’s forgiveness, surrounded by other sinners. Human sin is universal; we all do it, not only Christians. Ash Wednesday is a particular day to address sin and death. We do this mindful that “God hates nothing God has made and forgives the sins of all who are penitent.” We are ALL sinners, no better and no worse than our brothers and sisters. This is not a day to compete (‘my sins are worse than yours are’), but to confess.

I have to confess that I have not talked about sin much in ministry! Like many prefer, I have fallen into the trap of talking about love and forgiveness a lot more than about sin and repentance. It’s a cop out. For one thing, sin exists. For another, naming sin wakes us up to the need to change, and that’s good! That’s when we can start to be who God created us to be.

These past few days I reread Speaking of Sin, The Lost Language of Salvation. It is brilliant and profound. Taylor believes that sin is not a list of specifics; the trick is to identify sin for yourself, to really know yourself. To do this, Barbara Brown Taylor says, look for the experience that makes part of you die.

‘what makes part of you die?’…. now what is it!?
“The experience that makes part of you die.” Face up to it.

Its about more than putting band aids on wounds that needed much deeper attention. “Ask people about the root cause of their problem,” for each person needs to name the experience that makes part of him or her die. The key is to take time to listen to people, and that’s what we must do. We are just sinners asking other sinners, “What is the root cause of your problem?” Once the person names the root cause, life can begin to change – and does!

“What is the root cause?” That question is bringing change in me, and is key why I can be assured of growing and thriving. What is the root cause? What makes part of me die? Those are good questions, perhaps the best questions to ask ourselves on Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday is a precious gateway to open ourselves up most particularly to God, to examine ourselves in the presence of one who created us, knows us, and loves us. We have forty days to face ourselves and learn to not be afraid of our sinfulness. We ARE dust, and to dust we shall return, but with God’s grace we can learn to live this life more fully, embracing our sinfulness, and to continue to allow God to transform us. This is why I am thankful to God for this forceful, sobering day.

May God grant us: the wisdom to know ourselves; the courage to admit our sins; and the grace to receive God’s never-failing mercy and forgiveness. Amen.