COME BACK TO ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART

ASH WEDNESDAY - Joel 2:12-18

Many people will find it strange that many Christians start the lenten season by putting ashes over their heads or by participating in a celebration in which they are anointed with ashes, as they say it in Bemba language. 

In fact, if we go by the wisdom of the world, there are many things in Christianity that are strange. The cross is one of them and in many traditionally Christian countries, there are outspoken groups fighting against the use of the cross in public, be it in schools or in working places. It is strange that an instrument of torture is cherished and carried by many, and it is even more strange that we glorify and worship the crucified One.

To be a Christian every Christian has to make a choice to follow Jesus and carry the cross. We may ask ourselves how suffering can be redeeming, putting us on the path to salvation and life, but we proclaim that we are saved by death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

We use oil and all kinds of creams to anoint ourselves, so that we keep our skins smooth and enhance the beauty of our bodies. It gives us a sense of worthiness. Using ashes, instead of creams and oils, we are forced to understand the emptiness of such beauty and of a worthiness built upon the decay of the body. The ashes remind us of the continuous ageing that leads our bodies to decay and are a statement of rejection of a false notion of beauty and worthiness. And we must ask ourselves where is the true beauty.

On the Wednesday of Ashes, we do public penance as a community, recognising our sinfulness and listening to God’s to repentance and conversion. The ashes are a recognition of the emptiness of our lives and of our impotency to achieve true beauty and goodness. We walk daily towards death and possible annihilation. They represent a cold and realistic look at our lives in this passing world. But like the cross of Jesus Christ, the ashes do not represent an attitude of hopelessness. Recognising that everything is passing away, we decide to turn our hearts and our minds to what is permanent and eternal. 

Although, looking at ourselves with open eyes, we see our shortcomings, weaknesses and failures, we do it turning  to God and throwing ourselves in his arms, confident of his mercy and love. That’s why we are told, as we receive the ashes: Repent and believe in the Good News.