This point is further illustrated by the fact that the priest traces the same spot on our forehead where, at our baptism, we were “sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever”. In any other situation, this would be an ominous warning, but on Ash Wednesday, framed within the intimacy and love of the Christian community, these are words of grace: reminders that we are part of the creation that God called “good”. In many ways, it is this intimacy provides context for what the priest says in this moment: “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or, more straightforwardly, “Remember you are going to die”. A priest pushes your hair back (a gesture usually reserved for one’s child or lover), looks deep into your eyes, and marks you with the sign of the cross. If you think about it, the imposition of ashes is almost startlingly intimate.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |