One of my first embarrassing moments with my now husband was over a text. I had run into several people with crosses of ashes on their foreheads, and was mystified and... amused. Unfortunately, I think I tried to make a joke out of it. “Yeah, I have a cross on my head, too.” He texted back and went on with a short explanation of Ash Wednesday. I was embarrassed but now genuinely curious...
A year later, we were newlyweds and our world had been turned upside down by a stressful school semester and difficult, persistent health issues. The local Lutheran church we chose to attend as a young couple was hosting an Ash Wednesday service and I arrived, feeling mystified again, out of place as a Christian Church/Baptist-raised girl, and exhausted from the day and season. The service was a somber reality check and curiously quieted my soul. The physical substance and act of the ashes was uncomfortable but also a tangible reminder of the true state of things: my frailty and God’s holiness and love and redemption.
The physical substance and act of the ashes was uncomfortable but also a tangible reminder of the true state of things: my frailty and God’s holiness and love and redemption.
The next year we observed Lent with our small Lutheran church plant; this was a close-knit group. Following the church year and celebrating seasons like Advent and Epiphany was growing on me, and I knew I couldn’t leave out Lent. I chose my fast and committed to give this season a try. I was prepared to go seriously through this and, in my dislike of giving up control and also (if I’m honest) shrinking from the somber messages of Holy Week, I forgot what came next and was not prepared for the joy of Easter morning. The day itself was gorgeous, and the message and realization that “He is Risen, indeed! Hallelujah!” was more heartfelt than I’d ever experienced.
“We are not ready for Easter,” Aaron Damiani says of Lent. Lent is a detox from our false attachments in this world and a time where our fasting and praying and giving renews our dependence on God and love for His provision. Each year, the Lenten season brings refreshment as it reminds me of my weakness and dependence on God’s grace.
Lent is a detox from our false attachments in this world and a time where our fasting and praying and giving renews our dependence on God and love for His provision.
Lent reminds me my salvation is not all about me. We are called to share generously what we’ve freely received. Lent reminds us of the true joy of our faith: the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV) Lent reminds us that Easter is coming, that the joy experienced here is a tiny taste of when we shall see Him face to face and rejoice with all the saints, “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!”
The season of Lent does look strange to those, like myself, who had never practiced or heard of such a thing as ashes on your forehead. That the simple, very human practices of ashes and fasting and giving to those in need refresh my soul still surprises and mystifies me. These are gifts from our Father to His children who need the reminder that, truly, Jesus is our Bread of Life.
Elizabeth Kraemer is a daughter of the king, wife to John, and mother of two beautiful children. Her and her family are members of Trinity San Antonio.