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SERMONS

Ash Wednesday
February 25, 2009

By The Rev. Sylvia Czarnetzky

We’re studying the prophet Isaiah in our Bible Study right now. The Book of Isaiah contains some of the most beautiful poetry in the whole Bible; it’s also the book in the Old Testament that we read from most frequently in our Sunday lectionary. But sometimes, I have to say, Isaiah can be pretty heavy sledding. You can’t always tell who’s talking, or whom they are talking to, or sometimes even what on earth they are talking about. But we keep at it.  We don’t give up. Because for all the headaches Isaiah gives us, it also yields its treasure to us. The Book of Isaiah contains a stunning indictment of human failings – It is a story of human beings who get it wrong all the time. They ignore God. They disobey his commandments. They whine. They make selfish choices. In short, it is a story about us. 

There is often a sense of urgency in prophetic speech, as if time is running out. The prophet Joel cries, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on my holy mountain.” (2:1) The day of the Lord is coming. You can almost hear a note of panic in Joel’s voice: “[P]roclaim a fast. call an assembly, gather the people, notify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children,” Even the little babies! (2:15-6) And the reason, Joel says, you need to do all these things? Because you need to beg God for forgiveness. (2:17) It is not too late! There’s still time!

It’s no wonder we read this passage on Ash Wednesday. Today we gather in this chapel to have ashes smeared on our foreheads, as a reminder of our mortality. Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. With those quiet words we remind ourselves that we are mortal.  That we are only on this earth for a season and a time.  And that’s a difficult truth.

Some call Ash Wednesday the most uncomfortable day in the church year. Because who wants to talk about mortality? Who wants to talk about sin? Worse still, who wants to admit all the ways we’ve fallen short. That doesn’t sound like much fun.

But the reality of Ash Wednesday in our Episcopal tradition is that it invites us to allow Lent to be for us what it is intended to be – a period of self-examination and reflection; a time when maybe we give something up or take something on, as a Lenten discipline; a time to be honest with God about who we are and how we act.

During the weeks leading up to Easter, we will observe together a holy Lent. Our Sunday worship will be more somber and more penitential as we focus for a season on God’s mercy and forgiveness, and how much we need it! We will walk out of this chapel marked with a smear of ash, to remind us that we are mortal; that our time on earth is limited, and that some day our time will be up, and even though it sounds weird to say it, there is good news in Lent. The good news of Lent is that Jesus died to save us, and by his death and rising again, he made salvation
possible for us. But we have to claim it. We have to fall on our knees and ask for it. And it’s not too late! There’s still time!

The good news of Lent is like the good news of the prophets: God wants us to repent! God wants us to turn our lives around! God is offering us forgiveness and a fresh start, If we will only say yes! And it’s not too late! There’s still time!

So let this Ash Wednesday be a day of truthfulness for us. Help us admit where we are  wrong. Help us turn around and do better. And help us have the strength and courage to observe a holy Lent. Amen.