“For you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19 ESV).

Ash Wednesday forces us to confront the reality of sin and death. We know that death and sin are all around us, but we do everything we can to avoid it. We struggle to confront sins in our midst. We choose to speak of someone “passing away” instead of dying. Some of us may have dealt with families that refused to allow their child to attend a funeral because they didn’t want them to be exposed to death in such a raw way.

Ash Wednesday doesn’t allow for us to avoid talk of sin and death. When we hear or say those words, “From dust you came, and to dust you shall return,” we are forced to reckon with our human frailty, caused by sin, and leading to death. Every year, as I conduct the imposition of ashes in my congregation and school, I end up reflecting on those that died after Ash Wednesday last year and those who will die in the coming year. There is no avoiding our return to dust.

If we avoid talk about dust and ashes, sin and death, we really are avoiding talk about the only answer to our human frailty, Jesus Christ, our Lord. The ashes on our foreheads are made in the sign of the cross, pointing us directly at the One who gives Himself to us in His Holy Word and His Sacraments, who forgives our sins and gives us eternal promises.

As we begin our walk through Lent today, let us remember that we are dust, and that to dust we shall return. Let us remember that Jesus is the only answer to the dust and ashes, to sin and death. Let us remember that in Jesus, we “die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24 ESV).

Prayer – Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen (LSB Altar Book, Ash Wednesday, Collect of the Day, p. 578).

In Christ,

Rev. Samuel M. Powell
Third Vice President, Missouri District