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up toward the altar. Indeed, everyone was invited to go forward to get a sign of ashes for human sin on their foreheads. In order to fit in, Mike got up from his seat. As he went forward, he was joined by his girlfriend. Brenda went up the aisle with him. Mike had danced with her while they were still in high school. I remember hearing several years later that she’d gotten arrested in the ‘60s, while attending an anti-war demonstration in D.C. However, back then, as they knelt at the altar together, she demurely held Mike’s hand as Father John put ashes on their faces. The ashes represented their mortality… and stated human sinfulness. Since all were Christians gathered, a sign was placed on all their foreheads in the shape of a cross. Father John spoke a stark reminder as he rubbed hard so the black ash would stick. He said, “Dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Sadly, those words spoken bounced too lightly upon their young minds. The ashes of repentance and the waters of baptism were not yet mixed by wisdom. However, with the rust of age… those words clearly spoken... now rattle our brains. As a minister today, I recall repeating them every year to both young and old. |
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Sifting…(cont’d) |
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