A sermon for Ash Wednesday, by Father Dan Suelzle.
The imposition of ashes is a startlingly honest act, a physical confession that strips away our modern delusions of self-sufficiency and immortality. By tracing a cross of dust upon our foreheads, we acknowledge the grim reality that sin and death are inextricably linked—a problem of our own making that we are utterly powerless to fix. Yet, this ashen cross does not leave us in despair; it mirrors the sign made at our Baptism, reminding us that while our bodies return to dust, we belong to the One who conquered the grave. As we enter the penitential season of Lent, we utilize disciplines like fasting and prayer not to earn righteousness, but to sharpen our awareness of our need for a Savior. We turn back to God with broken hearts, finding that His justice and mercy meet perfectly in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore our sin so that we might share in His life.
All Saints Lutheran Church and School 