Ashes to ashes

You may run into some folks with smudges on their foreheads today, because it’s Ash Wednesday. In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Many churches don’t participate,  or teach about Lent anymore, but I think it bears looking into.  The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday.  The season reminds people to consider their own mortality, (Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return"), and calls them to repentance in preparation for Easter.  In the early Church, Ash Wednesday was the day on which those who had sinned, and who wished to be readmitted to the Church, would begin their public penance. Whether you don ashes, and participate in Lent  or not, the idea of putting our own earthly lives into humble perspective is a great idea. We won’t be here forever, but we will need to make the decisions that effect our eternal life now. Jesus died for us sinners, not only because he loved us, but because there was an outstanding sin debt,  which only his shed blood could pay.  46 days from today will be Easter, let’s use that time to think about the life he offers us through Him.