Ash Wednesday

Dr. Richard J. Henderson February 8, 2009

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Psalm 139
Matthew 5:1-6

Introduction

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. I'm not sure how much people know about Lent, the forty days before Easter. That number, forty, is an important number in bible. Jesus was tempted in wilderness for forty days. Moses wandered in the desert for forty years before he found the Promised Land. We find the number forty all through Bible.

Lent is 40 days of preparation before the arrival of Easter.

But some of you realized there are six weeks in Lent, and six weeks times seven days equals forty-two. The First Sunday of Lent isn't until this Sunday, four days away, so there are really forty six days in Lent.

That's because Lent is forty days not counting Sundays. Why don't we count Sundays? Because each Sunday is considered a mini-Easter. Each week in Lent is made up of six days of reflection, evaluation, and penitence plus one day of celebration and joy. Lent begins tonight with Ash Wednesday

I

The ashes of Ash Wednesday go back to the Middle East practice of throwing ashes on your head when you are grieving or sorry for something you've done. You may have seen images of sorrowful people who toss ashes on their heads in magazines or on television. All through the Old Testament we read of people expressing sorrow by putting ashes on their heads. This old tradition is still common today in the Middle East.

Lent is a time to reflect on our lives, what we've done well and where we've fallen short. It is time to evaluate our Christian character as we prepare for the celebration of what Christ has done for us at Easter.

II

We begin Lent with the ashes of repentance. We start by saying we're sorry for what done wrong, where messed up, and times we haven't treated people fairly. So we put ashes on our heads and confess our mistakes.

Confession isn't real popular these days. Admitting we've done wrong isn't something we want to spend much time talking about. Did you notice that it was a big story when President Obama admitted that he made a mistake in how some of his applicants were screened? It's like people aren't supposed to admit that they've made mistakes, and if you're the president you people are surprised if you ever admit making a mistake.

Many churches have taken "prayer of confession" out of worship service because they think it is too depressing. Nobody wants to be reminded of where they have fallen short. So can we just drop it, pretend it didn't happen? I mean, what will it do to a person's self-esteem to confess their failures?

III

And yet, if we never admit a mistake, how can we ever learn from it? If we never recognize the wound, how will it ever heal? If the alcoholic never confronts his addiction, how will he ever overcome it? If I never admit my sin, how will I ever be forgiven?

So this evening we've had a long prayer of confession. This is an important time to take an honest look at ourselves. And we will have a long assurance of forgiveness, because we don't leave here tonight convicted, but forgiven,

We are not put down, but raised up,

We are not ignoring the messiness of our lives, but asking to be cleaned through and through.

We leave not with ashes on our foreheads, but washed clean by the promises of Christ who was raised from the dead on Easter day.

Amen

© Richard J. Henderson 2009