A Sermon preached on February 18th,
Ash Wednesday, at St. Augustine’s, Wiesbaden
Isaiah 58:1-12, 2
Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
There’s something
strange about the Ash Wednesday liturgy. We seem to do the opposite of what the
readings appointed for the day tell us to do, rather like celebrating Easter
Day with the Good Friday readings. According to Isaiah, " Such
fasting as you do today,” such as bowing down the head like a bulrush, and lying
in sackcloth and ashes, “will not make your voice heard on high.” (58:5) And
Jesus tells us that “whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the
hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are
fasting. 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.” (Matthew 6:16-18) Having a
cross marked on your forehead with ashes is not exactly a secret is it? So why
do we celebrate Ash Wednesday this way?
Our Presiding
Bishop. Katherine Jefferts-Schori, offers us one explanation in her annual Lenten
message. She said that “the cross that comes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday
is a reminder of the cross that’s put there at Baptism. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism
and marked as Christ’s own forever.”[1]
So what is this Baptismal
sign meant to remind us of exactly? For one thing that we are mortal, that we
are dust and to dust we shall return. We are baptized into Christ’s death and becoming
Christ’s own is dangerous and can even be the cause of death. Too often we
forget that the cross, especially in its more decorative forms, is a symbol of an
instrument of torture and execution. And the ashes we use in this liturgy are
made by burning last year’s palm crosses – themselves a reminder of how quickly
Jesus’ death followed his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and how quickly the
same people who cried Hosanna, were ready to shout out “crucify him” instead. The
21 Coptic Christians recently massacred by the so-called Islamic State died
because of the Cross of Baptism on their foreheads, they died as witnesses – or
martyrs – to Christ. But they still died in hope. Whether our death is untimely
and cruel, which we all pray will not be the case, or peaceful and in due
course, the promise of Baptism is that by sharing in Christ’s death we also
share in his glorious resurrection.
The second thing
the sign of the cross also reminds us of, is what we promised at our Baptism: To continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers. To persevere in resisting evil,
and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord. To proclaim by
word and example the Good News of God in Christ. To seek and serve Christ in
all persons, loving our neighbor as our self, and to strive for justice and
peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. This we promised
to do every day and all day – but we can and should still put a particular focus
on these promised during the 40 days of Lent.
Coming back to the
Presiding Bishop’s Lenten message: “Lent is an ancient tradition of solidarity
and preparation for those who look forward to Baptism at the Easter Vigil. It has always been a time for prayer and
study, fasting, self-denial, and alms-giving, sharing what we have with those
who do not have. Prayer is an
opportunity to reflect on who walks with us in the desert, who brings light
into the world. Study is an opportunity to do the same kinds of things looking
at the history of our tradition, where have human beings found light and
direction in their journey through this world.
Fasting and self-denial are an inward-reflection on what it is that
keeps us in the dark, or what it is that keeps us directionless, or that keeps
us overly self-focused. And it becomes
an invitation to turn outward and share what we have with those who have not.”
Turning outward
and sharing is, as Isaiah also reminds us, not an option. To fast and to neglect
the poor perverts religion and ritual. The fast that God chooses is “to loose
the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go
free, and to break every yoke. Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and
bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?” (58:6-7)
These are true and
sincere acts of piety. We pray and fast and give alms not for our glory or
reward, but out of gratitude to God for the gift of new life through his Son
given to us in Baptism - out of joyful obedience. The treasures we store up in
heaven and in our hearts, because they should be the same place, are righteousness,
loving-kindness, generosity, and peace. The forty days of Lent are our chance
to focus on filling our heart with these treasures. That will bring us joy and will
be a source of joy for our God. And what greater reward can there be than the
joy and love of God?
Amen.
[1] http://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/episcopal-presiding-bishop-katharine-jefferts-schori-lent-message-2015
No comments:
Post a Comment