"Remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return"
This is what we say on Ash Wednesday as the sign of the cross is traced on our foreheads. The Eastern Religions express the same thing in another way:
Regard this fleeting world like this:
Like stars fading and vanishing at dawn,
Like bubbles on a fast moving stream,
Like morning dewdrops evaporating on blades of grass,
Like a candle flickering in a strong wind.
Whatever way it is expressed, it is meant to convey a truth, and that truth has to do with the impermanence of all things; in particular, our lives as we know it.
One day we are all going to die. But who among us really believes it. It's such an obvious fact; why do we pretend it's never going to happen. And yet, through our faith and Christian teaching, the reality of impermanence and death can be a most important teaching. For death drives us to seek that which is deathless, to seek that which liberates us from the bonds of death.
The saints of our faith tradition would recommend that we keep the reality of our own death in the forefront of our consciousness. Why would we want to dwell on something so morbid and depressing? Because it is though recognizing the impermanence of our life that we can better prioritize our daily activities, and better direct our attention to that which is significant and meaningful.
There are many things that attract us, that catch our attention and consume our time. There are many things we do by habit, not really thinking too deeply of their consequences. It is so easy to put off little things like telling a spouse, a child, a parent that you love them. It is the awareness of death that draws us out of our complacency, and focuses our attention on what is important.
When I was writing this, I tried to think of a story to serve as an illustration. The first thing that came to mind was Charles Dickens' Christmas story about Ebenezer Scrooge. We are all familiar with it. Scrooge, as you know, was given a great gift; through the Spirit of Christmas future, he could see the results of the destructive path that he was living, a life built on ambition and selfishness. He saw a life alienated from family, friends and community. He saw that his illusions of permanence of the things he had gathered in life led only to a black tombstone in an unkempt grave marking off his short span of days. This gift was enough to jar him into changing the direction of his life, to focus on the ways that led to fullness.
None of us are Ebenezer Scrooge, but we all struggle, at times, with some of his qualities. Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder that we too need to move away from that which does not bring life to ourselves and others.
To what conversion are we being called? What distracts us from all that is more important?
From the prophet Joel, we read:
"Blow the trumpet, sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly, gather the people. Sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children."
There is a sense of urgency in all this. What is the urgency? God is calling us to return, not with complacency and indifference, but with all our hearts. God is saying: "Come with fasting, with weeping and with mourning, rending your hearts." Why? Because we often forget that first and foremost, we are God's children and He loves us.
In Corinthians, Saint Paul is telling us: "Now" is the acceptable time, "now" is the time we must act. "Now" is the day of our salvation." We can no longer wait until some future time, because such a future time may never come.
There was a time when I lived as if my life was to begin at some future moment: When I got that job, when I got married, when I had children, when I got that promotion, when I retired. An awareness of death tells me not to cling to impermanent things, that "now" is the time to live.
Our Gospel from Matthew encourages us to practice the three virtues of a pious life; prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. All of these things, when practiced with a pure intention and a pure heart, helps us to see more clearly the vision and path God has prepared for us. Remembering that we are dust, and to dust we shall return helps us to focus on the "now" and the gifts this moment brings.
"Now" is the only moment where we can see that our lives are really meant for love, compassion, and forgiveness. "Now" is the moment that we can recognize God's abundance, and God's desire that we share this abundant life with those around us. "Now" is the moment we make Christ visible in our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment