In most ways, we make our lives the center of our universe.
It’s not unnatural. We are focused on our needs; we
experience the world through the lens of our emotions; and
we consider how the actions of others will affect us.
On Ash Wednesday, we receive the imposition of ashes and
with it the reminder of our mortality. And all too often, this
becomes yet another way in which we make things about us.
We use Ash Wednesday to remember that we are mortal, that
we too will die, and we use that to motivate ourselves to live
more wisely—perhaps even to try to live more faithfully.
But the imposition of ashes is not about us. It is about God.
We are reminded with the ashes that we are not God, and
that we are wholly dependent upon God. We are not at the
center of the universe—God is at the center of all things.
As we enter this season of Lent, may we make it our
discipline to always remember that God is at the center, and
to look for Him and to trust Him, even as Jesus himself did.
Psalm 32, 143; Amos 5:6-15; Hebrews 12:1-14; Luke 18:9-14
These Lenten meditations were written by the people
of St. Barnabas' for the people of St. Barnabas' as part
of our recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding
of this church. We hope that you will find them helpful
in your own Lenten devotions.
