Ash Wednesday is the day, which marks the beginning of the season of Lent, as we prepare for Easter. The 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays, which are always Feast Days) is a reminder of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Traditionally, Lent is a time to turn back to God, to live simply, and to say sorry for those times we’ve made mistakes.
Lent is an invitation to live without excess. It is a reminder of what is important in life: life is about living lives of beauty and grace, putting aside those things that tempt us to do the wrong thing, and focussing instead on the basic joys God gives us every day. Another way of expressing this is to be grateful for the beautiful things in life, which we experience every day.
Ash Wednesday is actually a reminder that it’s a miracle we are here at all. It is a miracle that we exist. Those of us who believe in God believe that it’s only because God gave us life, that we are here. But even if you don’t believe in God, it is still a miracle that we exist. What are the chances that billions of years ago an enormous and rapid expansion of energy would cause matter to form and eventually life to evolve? Life is precious, and that puts everything else into context.
Out in cut and thrust of our busy the world, it is easy to forget that life is a miracle. Yet, the season of Lent invites us to turn back to God and to give thanks for the wonderful miracle of life.
The Ash Wednesday custom of a cross being traced in ash on the forehead is a reminder that we are all the same; we are all equal. Life is a miracle – we owe our lives to God. It is a reminder that I am not more important than my neighbour. I am not more important than my competitor on the sporting field. I am not more important the refugee who flees persecution and ends up with nothing in a refugee camp in Indonesia, wanting to come to Australia. The ash is a symbol not just of living simply, but also of equality. It is a miracle we are here. All of us are important and loved by God.
The Reverend Dr Theo McCall
School Chaplain
