ASH WEDNESDAY

EVERYTHING WILL TURN TO ASHES:  MY HOUSE, MY CLOTHES, MY MONEY, THOSE I LOVE, THOSE  I DISLIKE , THOSE I AM AFRAID OF, MY PET, MY KNOWLEDGE  AND, YES,  MYSELF. TODAY, ASH WEDNESDAY, WE RECEIVE A VISIBLE REMINDER WITH A CROSS OF ASHES ON OUR FOREHEAD AND AN INVITATION:   IF TODAY (OR TOMORROW, OR THE NEXT DAY) YOU HEAR GOD’S VOICE ,  LISTEN!  LISTEN DEEPLY!  BREAK OPEN YOUR HEARTS, RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS AND BE TRANSFORMED! ASH WEDNESDAY IS THAT DAY EACH YEAR THAT EACH OF US IS DRAWN BACK INTO REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISMAL  CALL OF GIVING UP THE GLAMOUR OF EVIL. THUS, WE CAN ONCE AGAIN WALK THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE STORIES, SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER IN OUR WALK AND REFLECT HOW MY STORY FITS INTO THE  BIG STORY OF SALVATION HISTORY.  “RECEIVE THESE ASHES AND BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS.” And “WE APPEAL TO YOU NOT TO RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD IN VAIN.” (Col 6:1-2)

Marilyn Carpenter, OSB