Devotion - Ash Wednesday

And so begins our forty day journey to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, and to the tomb. These forty days were set aside in the early Church as a final period of preparation for baptism. They were set aside as an opportunity for those who had already entered a covenant with God to renew their devotion and to once more experience in their own lives the way of Jesus.

The way of Jesus leads us to a wonder place. It brings us into God's presence; it plants us firmly in God's gracious heart. It is a wonderful place to be. It is "heaven" in more ways than words can express. The way of Jesus leads us to a wonderful place.

The way of Jesus leads us through some desolate and painful way-points.

"The World" continues to oppose the way of Jesus. The conventional wisdom, drummed into our heads and hearts at every turn tells us to seek our own advancement. The business model operative in our culture is to climb to the top, stepping over or even stepping on those who would impede our assent.

Hording is openly encouraged. We collect more toys (insert gadgets or smart phones or impressive cars) in order to impress others or distinguish ourselves. We look for the right opportunity to buy low and sell high. The Biblical language for that was making the "ephah small and the shekel great". (Amos 8.5)

The way of Jesus begins each day with a prayer asking, "How might I help my neighbor," and ends with a confession for all the ways in which I had (intentionally and unintentionally) given offense. These actions were not to rip at one's self-esteem, rather they were to move us ever closer to that glorious existence referred to in the Creeds as the "Communion of the Saints." We seek unity with God's creation and all of God's children.

May these forty days move us away from our selfish and self-serving tendencies and re-unite us with the One who understands what a full life really looks like. May these forty days allow us to glimpse the heaven which is all around us; a heaven we would be able to see if only we were to look through the eyes of Jesus rather than through the rose colored glasses of a world become drunk on its own advancements.

And so, let these days begin.