Ash Wednesday. A day in which millions of Christians around the world will attend services of repentance and reconciliation. Hearing those words usually reserved for graveside interment, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust". Having ashes placed upon one's forehead is odd enough, so why do we do it?
We remember we are but dust, and to dust we shall return. In recognition of our mortality, we begin the season of Lent by facing our deaths, our sins, our failures "head on" so to speak. We remember the mercy of Lord and His desire to forgive those who turn unto Him with hearty repentance and true faith. We are reminded of the song of children, "Ashes, ashes, we all fall down". Indeed. We all fall, we all fail, in what we have done and in what we have left undone.
We call to mind our sins and remember again the forgiveness that comes to us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died on the cross to pay the price we could not pay and to conquer sin, death and the devil. So, as we begin our 40 days of devotion, let us first remember that "we all fall down". Ashes. Ashes.
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