Dust -Ash Wednesday

The scriptures indict me today.  You can read them here. Psalm 5 reminds me, as does Psalm 147, of the greatness of God and, at the same time, of my own sinful pride. My haughtiness is brought low in view of His holiness.

I identify with the psalmist this morning, that I can only approach a holy God on the basis and invitation of His mercy.

Amos, 5:6-15 points out the disconnect between my self-righteous confidence in my own piety and the contradictory behavior in matters of justice. God wants us to do the right thing.

We are dust, and to dust we return. That is God's indictment, evidence, and judgment with regard to fallen humanity. We are dusty, frail, withering shells of what we were made and intended to be and if we choose a life that is only that, then that is all we shall be. That is the state of our souls if we suck out the spiritual dimension.

Hebrews 12 is somewhat more encouraging, and yet, it reminds us of the inner struggle we have to resist sin and to run our race with patience. Sometimes, we can expect to suffer.

Then, there is the gospel. Two men went to pray. Which one am I? Am I the religious guy who presents his resume to God and pats himself on the back? Am I the fellow who knows how low he has fallen and cries out only for mercy? One went away condemned and the other justified.

On Ash Wednesday, we humble ourselves before God.