We respectfully submit, O God,
on this Ash Wednesday,
within our grieving
deaths and diagnoses,
that life offers us enough reminders of death
to need a liturgical one.
So remind us,
gracefully,
that we are ritually marked by death
in order to live—
and to live more abundantly.
Remind us,
faithfully,
that you breathed on the dust that became us,
and that you will breathe on the dust we become,
and that your breath on dust
always means life
and light and love.
Remind us,
hopefully,
always,
of Your presence with us,
day by day—
breathing—
fulfilling us with life ever new.
Amen.
John Ballenger, Baptist pastor in Maryland
___________________
You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
You sweep them away as with a flood;
they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
________________
Question:
When you think about your life and death
And one day returning to the earth,
how does the truth that God will breathe over your dust once again give you comfort or hope?
prayer & verse 