Ash Wednesday C’25
5 March 2025
Joel 2.1-2,12-17; Ps103
Mt.6.1-6,16-21
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
North Little Rock, Arkansas
The Rev. Carey Stone <+>
You have made us for yourself, o Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You; in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
– From St. Augustine of Hippo
Wars and rumors of future wars, economic woes, political upheaval and division, the likes of which this country has not seen since the Civil War, violent crime, natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes are at unprecedented levels. Just saying these words have raised my blood pressure by several points. If you are more than a little stressed and overwhelmed then you must be doing something right, like paying attention. Surrounded by multiple stressors attack our bodies immune systems, our central nervous systems, our brains, and last but not least our souls and spirits. T.S. Eliot in his poem “Ash Wednesday” pointed out this overwhelming condition of modern souls that are assaulted and starving:
And the light shone in darkness and
Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled
Around [About] the centre of the silent Word.
O my people, what have I done unto thee.
Where shall the word be found, where will the word
Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence
Not on the sea or on the islands, not
On the mainland, in the desert or the rain land,
For those who walk in darkness Both in the day time and in the night time
The right time and the right place are not here
No place of grace for those who avoid the face
No time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny the voice
Today on the Ash Wednesday the Church invites us to observe the season of Lent, to find refuge and relief in the silent sanctuary of the community of faith and in some unusual but tried and true gospel remedies: prayer, fasting, in giving some of our material possessions away, and of all worthless things – ashes.
Ashes to ashes dust to dust – as ashes are applied today on our foreheads, we will wear the outward and visible sign of our common destiny – and be reminded of human frailty, vulnerability and our need for the Living God.
The loud voices of pride and prejudice, of greed, and of lust all but drown out the still small voice of the Holy Spirit that whispers inside our souls for us to return to the Center to tune in, to listen for the inner Voice that loves us unconditionally, that has a plan for our lives to bring peace to our souls, to the souls around us and to glorify God.
But how will this ever happen with the WiFi out of commission and so much static on the lines of our communication with God? So many other voices filling our hearts, minds, and souls.
“Where shall the word be found, where will the word Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence.”
Spiritual disciples such as prayer, fasting, giving of our time, talent, and treasure to the benefit others these are all listening devices, ways for us to pay more attention. Traditionally, fasting is a spiritual discipline that invites us to forgo eating for a period of time to devote more time to spiritual reading, prayers, and listening for directives to make the world a better place. Fasting can also be applied to our other forms of consumption like media, by limiting our intake of constant news updates, social media, and rampant consumerism, we become more sensitive to the needs of our own souls and of other souls. I dare you to start the day with the prayers of the church through the daily office, a gospel or psalm reading, or spiritual reading like Forward Day by Day, as opposed to the news feeds and see if it makes a difference in how your day goes.
Add some soul food to your diet by attending Wednesdays in Lent when deacon Richard and I will be teaching on Five different ways to pray.
Give to Episcopal Relief and Development, St. Francis House, or other faith-based charities to help all who have been affected by the floods, wildfires, and storms. By giving money away it’s stranglehold can be loosened and we can actually see it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. What the Christian Church has called the Seven Deadly sins are the counterfeits of genuine Love and Hope offered up to us on a daily basis: Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth. Bottomless pits – every one of them.
Lent invites us to discover once again the timeless truth uttered centuries ago by the great North African Saint Augustine:
You have made us for yourself, o Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You; in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.