Ash Wednesday

Contemplations on Lent and what is to come...

They come.
The church is crowded with faces not seen before,
And still they come.
To hear the words and to enter the ancient ritual:
"Remember man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return."

They come.
The come to receive the mark of the pierced one;
To reflect on the agony of the nail in the palm and ankle,
The spear in the side...and still,
They come.

They experience the weight of the Cross,
The tearing flesh at the scourging,
The pitiful tears of a Mother
Watching her Son crucified.

They come.

We are formed from dust; only the Gospel
Helps us rise above that earthbound reality.
And when our atoms have once again co-mingled 
With the Earth, we will see the light of fire
And salvation and look, at last,
Down at the ashes.
And still, 
They come.

I wish all of you a blessed Lent. A season of reflection and renewal and a challenge to be better at all that we do.