Ash Wednesday

Lent started this past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday. Ashes are both a sign of grief and repentence (Job and others put ashes on their heads when mourning, the people of Ninevah put on sackcloth and ashes when repenting and turning to God) and also a reminder of our mortality: "you are dust, and to dust you shall retutn" (Genesis 3:19). Although being reminded of our death is perhaps not the cheeriest way to spend a Wednesday evening, it is important. We are mortal creatures. With one exception, the ratio is still 1:1- we are born, and we die. But that one exception is Christ. And Christ, in his death, overcame sin and death for us. Now--how will you live?