Ash Wednesday 2024

Sermons, The Word

Matthew 6: 16-18

Ash Wednesday 2024

+In the Name of Jesus+

 

Grace and peace in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord speaks of many things: proper worship, the giving of alms, the golden rule, false prophets.

 

Our text for this evening is a portion of the Sermon on the Mount.   In this short section, Jesus speaks specifically to the practice of fasting.   So, what is fasting?   We really don’t hear much about fasting anymore, even in the church.      Most people think of fasting as that time period when you do not eat or drink anything or it may mean simply abstaining from a certain food or meal each day.

 

But sadly, associated with Lent is something called Carnival.     What is the meaning or purpose of “Carnaval” often called Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras?    In the history of the church, Lent, a season of fasting, prayer and repentance, always begins on Ash Wednesday, more or less 40 days before Easter.    So, some people have the idea that a few days before Ash Wednesday, we will eat, drink and indulge once more before the 40 days of fasting and repentance. This idea came from Spain, I think.

 

But for God’s people, Ash Wednesday and the entire Lenten season is something more serious than in these people’s minds.     It is not just a time for outward acts such as fasting, but a time to reflect, to think about the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, to change our thoughts, our inner mind to be like Christ.   And so, this evening, we take time to:

 

Reflect on what it means to repent.

 

Many people think of fasting in this way, “I’ll stop drinking beer for Lent or I won’t eat meat, for Lent or I won’t go to a restaurant until the Lenten season is over.      Sadly, most do not think beyond that to the meaning of Lent.    But in truth, this kind of thing, like fasting, giving alms, all piety, is not commanded by the Lord to gain salvation, because we have salvation in baptism.   We have the promise of eternal life in Christ, so we should not make of these things a show for others.

 

This is of what our Lord speaks in our text.   At the time of Jesus, the Jews had the custom of fasting to focus their minds not on the things of this world, but on the things of God.   But as Jesus points out, many people wanted to present a show for others.

 

There was no thought of God or the Word of God, no real thought of repentance, but the admiration of people around them.    Look, he’s a spiritual man!   So not only did they fast, also stopped cleaning their faces, or washing themselves, to present an image of suffering, pain and repentance.    Look, how his hair is messy, his face is disfigured, how he suffers because of his faith!    What a holy man!

 

The Lord tells us this is false spirituality.    It’s not what God wants. This is what God wants, as our Psalm (Psalm 51) says, a broken spirit, a contrite and humble heart.    Jesus is telling us: So away with this show, this spectacle of repentance and suffering and pain.   Wash your face and do not do this anymore.

 

So, let’s reflect on our preparation for Lent.   Through the prophet Isaiah, our Lord defines the fast He wants.    Our Lord puts it this way:

 

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed[b] go free,
and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

The words of God through Isaiah, “to loose the bonds of wickedness,” strike at the heart of repentance: To turn from our evil ways; to seek forgiveness in the wounds of Jesus.   The real fast which God wants is a fast from our sins.     What are those sins?   Let’s reflect on this:

 

  • Do you think God doesn’t see what you do or care about your sins?
  • Do you take God’s grace for granted?
  • Do you feel secure because of your life, health or possessions rather than the providential care of God?
  • Are you afraid of anything or anyone but God?
  • Do you boast in your own accomplishments rather than the Crucified Lord?
  • Have you used the name of God to swear or curse others?
  • Have you failed to pray regularly?
  • Have you failed to thank and bless God, in both good times and in bad?
  • Have you brought dishonor to the Name into which you were baptized in thought, word or deed?
  • Out of discouragement, apathy or sloth, do you fail to attend church on Sundays and read the Scriptures at home during the week, privately or with your family?
  • Do you make going to Church a low priority in relation to other things?
  • Do you fail to listen, or refuse to listen to your Pastor?
  • Do you fail to appreciate the gifts of God in the Divine Service?
  • Have you hurt or harmed anyone physically, or with your words?
  • Have you been angry and/or hateful in thought towards anyone?
  • Have you failed or refused to forgive and be reconciled with anyone?
  • Do you always pray for your enemies?
  • Have you failed to help your neighbor when you saw a need?

 

I could go on but this list should bring us to our knees in repentance crying out “Lord, have mercy on me, the Sinner.”    Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord not only pounds our conscience with the Law but as we come to Him in repentance God says: “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’”       Or as our Savior says in the New Testament: “Whoever comes unto Me I will in no wise cast out.” 

 

On Sunday, we will hear once again that Jesus withstood the evil temptations of Satan on our behalf.    On Good Friday, we will rehearse the horrible crucifixion of our Savior and hear from the cross: “It is finished.”      Then on Easter morning we will hear the angel of God tell us: “He is risen, He is not here.”   These are words of absolution.  They are the Word of God spoken to your sin and those words are binding now and for all eternity.   That is the promise your Lord made with you in Holy Baptism.

 

So, is it wrong to show our repentance to God with the placing of ashes on our forehead this evening?      Are we being hypocritical as the people of Isaiah’s day?     It is not a rite commanded by the Lord, but it is useful to help us reflect and think about our sins.  Stand in front of your mirror.  Because when we receive ashes on our foreheads, we hear the words “You are dust, to dust shalt thou return “ (Genesis 3:19). It is a reminder to you of your mortality, your sinful nature.

 

Therefore, it is useful to observe this ceremony.  It is not necessary for salvation, but it is very good and beneficial for us.    At all times, we may think of our sins, repent and receive the Lord’s forgiveness.    But this season of Lent is a very special opportunity to prepare for the day of complete joy, the Sunday of the Resurrection, when we hear the good news of the Resurrection of Christ.    Because Christ died on the cross paid the price for our sins, so we have complete forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.   Because of Christ’s death and also because of His glorious resurrection.

 

For a while, we do not focus on the glory of Christ, but in His humiliation on the cross. This is the purpose of this Lenten season.   This is the purpose of the imposition of ashes.     If any of you want to come forward to receive the sign of the cross on your foreheads with the ashes, I invite you to do so as we begin the reflection and repentance of the season of Lent.

 

May the peace that passes all understanding be with each of you forever. Amen.