Since ancient times in the tradition of the ancient peoples and also in the culture of the Jews, one could already observe that putting ashes on the head (or even sitting in ashes) was considered a sign of penance, of repentance for one’s sins and a return to the love of God (cf. Job 2:12). Through the administering of blessed ashes on the faithful for Ash Wednesday, the liturgy invites us to an important reflection on the shortness of life. Thus, we are reminded that that God is the beginning and the end, that we are dust and unto dust we shall return (cf. Gen 3:19).
The ashes make this reflection real, helping us to understand and accept that human life is transitory and that it is also fragile. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, tells us that our lives are not made for this world, that we are citizens of heaven and that our bodies will be refashioned by God in a glorious way on the last day (cf. Phil 3:20-21) . We are not meant to cling to this life because heaven is our true home.
However, Christ also cautions us by telling us that we do not know the day nor the hour that our journey on earth will end (cf. Mt 25: 13). We have the chance, then, to really think about the way we are living so that we can live in accord with God’s plan of salvation. As is noted in the letter to the Hebrews, without holiness no one can see the Lord (cf. Heb 12: 14). Paul exhorts us and urges us to work at it until the end so that he Kingdom of God may be established within us so that, in turn, we may gain eternal life.
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world if he loses his own soul? (cf. Mk 8:36). St. Augustine answers Christ’s question by saying, “What is the point of living well for a while if I can’t live well forever?” Therefore, we are invited to conversion through a change of heart and into a new life (cf. 2 Cor. 5: 17). Becoming aware of the graces we received at Baptism making us children of God, we are led, through the ashes as it were, to repent of our sins, to come to a realization of all of our disordered passions. Thus, we remember that ours is not to cling to this life, but to prepare for a real change, a true conversion, to walk with giant steps along the path to holiness.
This path of conversion is offered to all of us in and through the Gospel where we have the opportunity to return to God, seeing the true values of this life in light of His revealed Word. Blessed Clelia Merloni tells us, “Are you aware that without sacrifice one cannot enter heaven? We all sin, so we have to do penance...., one that is synonymous with conversion where we are able to see, through the God’s Word, that our mentality can change. In that way, we freely strive to follow Christ completely.
Our Lord said, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him renounce himself, take up his cross, and follow me! (Mk 8: 34) This is the kind of penance that the Church wishes to teach us. However, penance and repentance are not paths of sadness, but of light and joy leading us to recognize the truth that we are sinners and enabling us to change and be open to God's love and mercy.
May we experience this special time of conversion and penance in a concrete and blessed way in our lives!
