“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”  Genesis 3:19.

With these words a smudge of ashes will be placed on our foreheads this evening.  A cross of ashes to remind us of who we are.  God created man from the dust of the ground and to the dust of the ground we shall return.  We bow humbly.  Of all the days on the church calendar, Ash Wednesday reminds us of our humility.  In both the Old and New Testament, humility is deemed essential for establishing a right relationship with God and with other people. 

What is humility:  to love kindness, to act with gentleness, to show patience, to bear with one another in love.  I am fond of this quote by C.S. Lewis.  “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

I came upon this song entitled “With these Ashes.”  The lyrics are “With these ashes we know your love oh Lord.  With these ashes we turn our hearts to you.” * I hope you enjoy it.

Remember, God’s unconditional love comes to you each day.  God’s unconditional love comes to you today with these ashes today.

Judy

*”With These Ashes,” Text by Katolikong Pinoy, Music by Gerard Chiusano Chris Brunelle.