Ashes, a symbol and sign for the coming Lenten season. This coming Wednesday we will gather and use this sign as a beginning of our season. Why ashes? What makes ashes so appropriate for Lent? One way in which ashes are such a sign is that they represent a transformation.
Often the ashes used at Ash Wednesday come from the burning of the palms from the previous year. Burning transforms the palms to ashes. Perhaps that transforming process is the most significant way in which ashes are a symbol for us. Lent as much as it is a time for penitence is much more a time of conversion or transformation.
We are disciples of Jesus, called to draw closer to what we see in Jesus, i.e. to become like Jesus. The writer of the Letter to the Philippians expressed this as: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:5). A disciple is called to imitate the master. Like an apprentice, the disciple learns and then practices what is learned. He/she is transformed into the master.
This transformation or change of heart is a lifetime task for us. It involves developing and nurturing what we call our spirituality. Lent is a season to draw our attention to the process more pointedly. It is not complicated, or especially religious or theological or even devotional. Better expressed, our spirituality is about what helps us make sense of our life and the lives of those around us. It is practical faith lived out every day.
Spirituality writer Ron Rolheiser (“Holy Longing” ch.1) tells us that our spirituality is about what offers us meaning and motivation in our lives. Rolheiser calls it the “fire” that energizes us. We need religion which ties us together as a community of believers. We need theology. It allows us to express beliefs. And we need devotions which can help us to focus our beliefs. But first, we need spirituality, for it touches our heart and leads us to life-giving actions in our life.
A number of years ago, an author named Robert Fulghum published a book with a very interesting title: “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. Fulghum introduces the book by saying that it represents what gives meaning to his life and actions. In other words, it is a kind of practical spirituality. Here is a brief piece of what Fulghum tells us:
“All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned
in kindergarten…. These are things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit
people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life – learn some and think some… When you go out into the world
Watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.” (Fulghum 5-6)
[Perhaps this is good wisdom and spirituality for all ages, personally, in community and in our world.]
It is in our spirituality that Lent draws our attention to conversion of life. As disciples we are called to imitate Jesus, our master in the everyday experiences that we have. It is in these life experiences that our spirituality takes on flesh and affects our personal and global worlds. When it does this, then the face of Jesus appears among us in one another. Lent is a gift of God’s Spirit for our time and for our world.
May God’s Spirit fill us all as we enter our Lenten season.
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