Ashes: Ash Wednesday

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Ash Wednesday

School and parishioners on Tuesday:

·      Put all the palms in a grill and a cylinder of chicken wire

·      We lit it up

·      We let them cool outside, and by the afternoon we only need a few items: dirty ashes, a few spoons, a sieve, a bowl, and small container

·      The kids were mashing them down and seeing how the dirty ashes became dust

·      Best line: we’re the dust crew!

And what a way to speak about Ash Wednesday

·      And here is what in the big red book (Roman Missal)

o   “In the course of today’s Mass, ashes are blessed and distrusted. These are made from the olive branches or branches of other trees that were blessed the previous year.”  = Palms

o   When the ashes are placed on our foreheads: 

§  Repent, and believe in the Gospel 

§  Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return

And why do we continue to wear those Ashes

·      First, let’s look back to the beginning in the Bible:

o   Genesis 2:7: “…the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being…”

o   And where do we end up? Well, back to dust…in a cemetery

§  But that is not the end of the story!

·      Second, be proud that we are Catholics, and Christians

o   We are wearing the Cross to begin Lent, and conclude with Lent with Triduum, Jesus death and resurrection

Welcome to Lent and wear these ashes and this cross be proud