Ash Wednesday 2022 ➕

Remember that dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Another Lent is upon us. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, and for the faithful, many will attend church and receive the imposition of ashes (have ashes drawn on their foreheads) as a sign of our own mortality and impermanence in this world. It also should remind us to be humble, that we are all are not masters of the universe, but a small cog in a complicated universe and often powerless against things beyond our control.

People observe Lent in different ways. Many people give up something for Lent, whether it be food, action, activity, or a material good. Something we can “sacrifice” as a sign of our faith. Some choose to use Lent as their “second New Year’s Resolution.” Traditionally, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three pillars of Lent. Three things Christians should be doing regularly, but with particular emphasis during Lent.

Over the last two years, we have all given up a lot. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed many restrictions that forced us to give up things in life. I remember Lent 2020 was jokingly called “the Lentiest Lent.” One of the things we gave up was interaction with our community. Humans are social creatures and we need social interaction (whether we admit it or not). With COVID restrictions being left and things resuming and opening up again, we are resuming activities that were not possible for the last two years. Sadly, the world has changed, the way we interact with others in community has changed, and it will take time for us to build those community connections and rapport before we can call things “normal” again.

And just when things were about to get back to normal, Russia invaded Ukraine and the world is thrown into chaos again. Who could have imagined that parts of Europe would be at war again? Why are humans so good at destruction, conflict, and strife yet so bad at doing things for the common good?

During this Lent, I hope that you will reflect on what people around the world are giving up or have lost against their will and that we all pray for peace, that you are able to find peace within you (peace from all the stresses and uncertainties of the world), and peace beyond you (for peace from war and conflict as well as peace in the sense of harmony and tranquility) .