Sidney UMC - Ash Wednesday - 02/22/23 - Sermon - “Why We Wear Ashes!”

                        02/22/23 Sidney UMC – Ash Weds. Sermon

Sermon Title: “Why We Wear Ashes!”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17                                     

New Testament Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

          Throughout the two-thousand-year history of the Christian Church, many traditions have developed within the worshipping tradition and the life of local churches. Some of these traditions have been embraced by some, and some have been rejected by some. While the Holy Scriptures are our central source of teaching over the centuries, various churches and denominations have incorporated into worship and the life of their churches things that were determined to affirm and or coincide with the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Some would also argue that some of these incorporated traditions, as I said, are not in alignment with Holy Scripture, and thus they reject certain elements of church tradition.

          For example, we are told throughout the scriptures to not worship idols, but to worship only God. Some Christian churches believe that statues and pictures are idols or “graven images”. Some churches have bear walls in their sanctuaries and buildings, as a picture of Jesus Christ, for example, is seen by that church as an idol or a “graven image”.

          Many Christian Churches and denominations also plan there years around the “liturgical calendar”. The “liturgical calendar” or church calendar are the various seasons of the church year like Advent, Lent, Common or Ordinary Time, Christmas, Epiphany, and etc. We mark these seasons with different color paraments or rugs on our pulpit, lectern, and altar, but we don’t have to do this. This is all tradition. In Medieval times when most people were illiterate, the church calendar, the colored paraments, etc. helped orient people around the Christian Calendar and the seasons. Purple for example, is the color of royalty, and since Jesus is the King of kings, many churches have purple colored paraments in the holy seasons of Advent and Lent, to show that Jesus is our high and holy leader. Some churches have even gone to royal blue paraments in the season of Advent to distinguish Advent and Lent.

          Many churches have or used to have annual Christmas pageants every year. Many churches have Advent Wreathes, candy canes, green garlands, coffee hour, rummage sales, Christmas Wreathes, etc. Some churches have children’s sermons each week, some churches have many other traditions, as well. Throughout the two-thousand-year history of the Christian Church these traditions were created to be connected to scripture and to grow our faith in Christ, and as I said, some people think some of these traditions are unscriptural and or unnecessary.

          I say all of this, because the season of Holy Lent is something that developed through the worshipping tradition of the Christian Church. This season is not required of us or even laid out in scripture. Yet, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40-days and 40-nights in our scripture reading from Matthew 4:1-11 for this Sunday. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40-years, Moses was on the mountain for 40-days and 40-nights, Noah was on the Ark 40-days, etc. So, throughout the worshipping tradition of the church, what emerged was a special season of spiritual preparation leading up to Jesus’ birth on Christmas, and to his crucifixion and resurrection on Easter. The church developed and created the season of Advent and Lent, which by the way, are 40-days and 40-nights. These seasons exist to offer us time to spiritually connect with Christ and to prepare ourselves for Jesus to die on the cross, to await his resurrection, and in Advent, to await his birth on Christmas.

          Another tradition that developed within the church to start the season of Holy Lent, is what brings us here tonight, the tradition of “Ash Wednesday”. Once again, we created it, but the scriptures in different places do talk about going before God in sackcloth and ashes. Given this, “Ash Wednesday” in the most basic sense, is a call for us to enter into the season of Holy Lent, and we do this by marking ourselves with ashes. Some places sprinkle the ashes on people’s heads. Further, what kind of ashes do we use? Well ashes from burnt palms. Jesus rode into Jerusalem of Palm Sunday to the shouts of “Hosanna,” and those palms become the ashes we impose tonight.

          Again, all of this is tradition within some churches, and it is not required. I believe though that Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent can be good for our spiritual growth and our walk with Christ, however. If I did not, I would not want to observe and or celebrate them. For these reasons, I like these traditions, while I realize some churches don’t embrace them.

Further, tonight, “Ash Wednesday” is about us realizing our own mortality. That as the scripture says we come from dust, and to dust we will return one day. That this life on earth is fleeting, and our time on this earth is limited. As a result, when the ashes are imposed on us tonight, the words “Repent, and the believe the Gospel” will be spoken. Why? Because in this the 40-day season of Holy Lent, we are called to live and love more like Jesus Christ. We are showing the world our desire to be humble, loving, caring, and repentant of any sin our wrong doing. We are trying to be all God has called us to be, so that the world might know us by our love. As my sermon title says, this is “Why We Wear Ashes!”

          To me, the ashes are not just some pagan ritual, it is declaring that we are followers of Jesus Christ, and that we seek to be more like him is this Holy Season of Lent. We might observe the tradition of giving things away in this season, of fasting from a food or something else we enjoy, or being intentionally more loving and generous in another area. Ash Wednesday, and this whole season, was created simply and basically to orient us towards the cross, and to grow us in holiness, righteousness, mercy, and love. This is “Why We Wear Ashes!” tonight.

          I also don’t think that Ash Wednesday and Lent needs to be a bummer or a time were we think awfully of ourselves. In our reading for this evening from Psalm 51:1-17, King David is asking God to forgive him, to cleanse him, and to blot out his transgressions and his wrong doings. King David asks God for forgiveness, for a clean heart, and asks for God to help him live for him (Ps. 51:1-17, NRSV). We gather to pray, to repent, and to commit to drawing closer to Christ. King David was human, like we all are, and we can be more like Jesus.

          In our reading for tonight from 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, the Apostle Paul tells us that we are ambassadors for Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us to be reconciled to God, as Christ who had no sin, will on Good Friday die for our sins. Paul also says that as Christians and as people that sometimes we suffer for our faith. Paul lists various ways that Christians at this point have suffered. Yet none of our sufferings can compare to the suffering of Christ on the cross. If we have suffered or are suffering, Christ who suffered for us, suffers with us. So, while our suffering is real, Christ is with us eternally if we but call upon him.

          In our gospel of Matthew reading for tonight once again, we hear about four different topics. We hear about giving money, praying, fasting, and storing up treasures on earth. First, Jesus tells us to not to try to look holy and righteous in front others or give money or alms so that everyone knows what we give. Be holy and give, but do so for God, for Jesus, not for an earthly reward or accolades from others (Mt. 6:1-6, NRSV). For the only one we truly need to please is God.

          Jesus continues in Matthew 6:16-21, telling us not to be miserable when we fast. Whether we are fasting from food or something else, do not look or act miserable just to try to show everyone how holy you are. Do it for God, to draw closer to Christ. Likewise, Jesus tells us not to store up treasures on earth, but rather store up treasures in heaven. Jesus ends this gospel reading with a verse from Matthew 6:21 that really says it all. Jesus says once again:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt. 6:21, NRSV).

          So tonight, my friends, brothers and sisters, on this Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of Holy Lent 2023, I pray that we all receive and wear our ashes humbly and with grace and mercy. We all need Christ. Let this season of Lent be an opportunity to give, to love, to sacrifice, to give up, and to humble ourselves, so that we grow closer to Christ and to each other. This is “Why We Wear Ashes!” tonight! Happy Ash Wednesday, and Happy Lent! Amen.