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“If you raise a speck of dust, the nation flourishes, but the elders furrow their brows. If you don’t raise a speck of dust, the nation perishes, but the elders relax their brows.” -- Chinese parable
“Remember that you are dust, and unto dust, you shall return.” We hear that phrase every Ash Wednesday, and it refers to our mortality and the need we all have to be responsible for our lives of discipleship here and now. Having come across that Chinese parable, I thought about the larger meaning of the dust of those ashes we so eagerly seek out today. Perhaps the ashes,the dust on our foreheads is a reminder of what Christian discipleship entails. That parable reminds us that there might be more power than we think in this symbol.
So, what kind of power resides in a speck of dust? Ask anyone with dust in their computer or in their contact lens or even in their eye! To raise a speck of dust is what you do when you clean something, renovate something, build something, when you stir up goodness, struggle for justice, speak up for those who stutter or do not speak the languages of power, to band together to stand resolutely and nonviolently before evil and refuse to be absorbed into it or intimidated by it.
But be aware that when you do this, the powers furrow their brows in consternation. Leave the dust alone and the elders in charge breathe easy, relax their brows but the people perish. Doesn’t this sound a bit like the Prophet Joel’s call to stir the Spirit, to practice compassion, and to confound the horrors of inhuman living? Lent is not about giving things up and sacrifice for its own sake. Lent is about making sure that the people flourish…that you and I flourish.
Lent is about encouraging and giving fresh heart to those around us, strengthening the bonds of community, reminding everyone that no one resists evil alone, and recalling that we are already reconciled to God in the cross of Jesus. That reconciliation is a gift and it’s up to us to accept that gift in gratitude, and then extend that gift to all in need. The ashes placed on our foreheads mix with the waters of our baptism and make good fertilizer which help the seeds of the gospel take deeper root in us and bring forth the harvest of justice, peace, and generosity, as well as return us to heartfelt worship of God—knowing that God will return the gift by leaving behind a blessing for us. May these days of Lent renew our hearts and let it start with a little dusting.
God bless,
Fr. Larry
