February 12, 2020
We had our final confirmation class tonight until after Easter. In preparation, we talked about Lent and especially Ash Wednesday. And…we burned the fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday worship service. The ashes were then mixed with oil to use for imposing them upon the foreheads of worshippers at this year’s Ash Wednesday worship.
Why burn the dried palms for ashes? One reason is the full circle of the process. These palms were used last year in worship on Palm Sunday to herald Jesus’ seemingly triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of the week of his crucifixion. Saving them to be reduced to ashes as we enter the season of Lent reminds us, as we begin the journey of repentance toward the cross, of where this Lenten time will end.
Needless to say, what the youth found most fascinating tonight was the fire itself. We can only hope that as they soon receive these ashes on their foreheads, hearing the words “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” they will recall what we did tonight and enter this year’s Lenten season focused on its intent - considering the depth of God’s love for the world in that God will stop at nothing to show us how much we are loved and cared for.
Blessings.
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