Ash Wednesday - 22 February 2012
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Psalm 103:8-14
II Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
St. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Background: Ashes
The imposition of ashes has deep roots in the usage of the Hebrew Scriptures and perhaps other cultures as well. It was a way of signifying to others mourning, or of penitence as well. There are examples of this practice in most of the cultures of the Ancient Near East. The biblical witness is full of examples as well. Readings from Job (42:3-6) and Jeremiah 6:26 (O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes. Daniel (9:3) mentions the practice as well (I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.) The ancient practice is tied to what is expected during Lent, the ashes, the sackcloth (seen in many an English parish as the “Lenten Array” that hides the altar and its decorations, and the fasting that can be a part of an individual’s Lenten devotion.
Joel 2:1-2,12-17
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near--
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old,
nor will be again after them
in ages to come.
Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the LORD, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the LORD, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the aged;
gather the children,
even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her canopy.
Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD,
and do not make your heritage a mockery,
a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
`Where is their God?'"
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.
Written to explain and to apply an eschatological point of view on a natural event (a plague of locusts) this passage from Joel is intended for everyone who will listen to him. All conditions of men and women, and all ages as well are mentioned by the prophet as he asks them to ponder the disaster that has happened. It is not like the disaster that their forebears understood with the invasions from Babylonia, but rather a disaster seen and understood in nature – in the creation that God provided. How then, the prophet wonders, does one react to the difficulties of creation? What Joel prescribes is our prescription for a holy Lent: a fast, notice to all people, blessings for all, weeping and prayers. The prophet will in the latter chapters of the book describe the situation in end-time terms. For now, however, he is content to comment on the devotion of our daily lives, regardless of our circumstance.
Breaking open II Kings:
- When difficult things happen to you, do you feel as though they were a sign from God?
- How do you determine what the meaning of these events are?
- How do you alter your living during Lent?
Psalm 103:8-14 Benedic, anima mea
The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, *
slow to anger and of great kindness.
He will not always accuse us, *
nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, *
so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, *
so far has he removed our sins from us.
As a father cares for his children, *
so does the LORD care for those who fear him.
For he himself knows whereof we are made; *
he remembers that we are but dust.
In this psalm the psalmist records a discourse intended for his soul and inner being. In verse one, which is not used here, we get the clue, “Bless, O my being (nephesh – breath, soul, interior existence), the Lord, and everything in me, God’s holy Name.” His musings about what God is, does, and expresses, are not unique to this particular psalm. Verse 8 (The Lord is full of compassion…) is a quotation from Exodus 34:6, where God explains God’s being to Moses. The psalm makes promises based on the covenant between God and the people God has chosen. It is an agreement, indeed a relationship, that has as its basic assumption a life lived in God’s forgiveness. The remaining verse underscore this theme over and over. God understands the difficult of our living. In verse 9, the author explains God’s awareness and remembrance that we are dust – a theme appropriate for this day.
Breaking open Psalm 103:8-14
- Do you have some sins or behaviors for which you cannot forgive yourself?
- Does God forgive you?
- How does God act as a loving parent for you?
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,
"At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you."
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Paul’s usual hallmarks of both listing and contrasting are evident in this reading. The tone is set by the remark that Paul makes about the nature of Jesus, made sin for us, yet never having actually experienced it. Paul’s relationship with Jesus was accomplished after the “acceptable time” (the crucifixion and the resurrection), and now it is his ministry and one that he commends to us as well that is to be accomplished. The context of this ministry is in the midst of hardships, and goodness. Living and serving Christ in the midst of this knowledge and proclamation, we see contrasts in our life (as dying, and see – we are alive!). Thus in the midst of life, on this day we remember the death that awaits us as we receive both ashes and forgiveness.
Breaking open Corinthians:
- How has God’s grace changed your life?
- Have you seen this grace at work in the lives of others? How?
- What have you endured for the sake of Christ?
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
What do we do with Lent? The ceremonies of the Church ask that we do something physical, accepting ashes, introspection and deprivation. Jesus’ comments are not about these things, but rather about our state of mind – our attitude. Thus he talks about the aspect we affect when we are in the beginning or midst of our Lenten discipline. The good deeds still remain and the ashes mark our quiet prayer – but they are our private and secret piety.
Breaking open the Gospel:
- How does Mark reach back to the past and forward to the future to speak about Jesus?
- In what ways is Peter naïve?
- What is meant by the secrecy in Mark?
After breaking open the Word, you might want to pray the Collect for Sunday:
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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