Living as animated dust

On this holy day of Ash Wednesday, one is reminded quite vividly as to what and who we are. Our first parent was taken from the dust of the earth, formed into man, and God breathed life into him. Animated dust, the crowning achievement of God's creation. "Let Us make man in Our image!" Man, in the image of God. This is a mind bending, mind numbing truth. This truth and either our fear or disdain for or of it has led so many to believe other things, lies though they be.

If God is good, and He is the Highest Good, then how could or why would there be evil in the world and more importantly, why do I find evil in me if my first ancestor was formed in the image of God? God is good, holy, love, why then am I, child of God in whom His image has been restored by the water and Word of Holy Baptism, wicked, cruel, and sinful? The tendency of many who have these questions or some that are similar is to remake god in their own image, according to their own reason and understanding, as limited and often dim as that may be.

As I sit here with ashes falling from my forehead unto my desk, starring at the Crucifix on my wall, I try to fathom the infathomable. Infinate God, eternal God, setting aside the constant use of His divinity and taking human flesh and blood into Himself that He alone might restore man to communion with his Creator and Redeemer. How could He love so much? How could He love me so much, especially knowing how much I would sin, the pain and suffering my sin would cause Him to endure, the hell that would be His to keep me from such eternal suffering, dying without death?

I do not presume to understand the unimaginable. Nor do I presume to be able to plumb the depths of God's mercy and grace. Yet I know that I am the beneficiary of His inestimable love.

I have the blessed privlege of serving two congregations this day, one twice. An amazing way to begin this Lenten season for this not so humble pastor is to have ashes upon my forehead and the body and blood of Jesus upon my lips and in my mouth. Simul iustus et pecattor most clearly and intimately joined in my heart and upon my head.

More than just animated dust. Fearfully and wonderfully made. Even more amazingly and profoundly redeemed. His blood poured forth freely from His body into the very dust of the earth that it, the ones taken from it, would be washed clean, restored to the image of the Triune God. All else are lies even and maybe especially if you understand it and it makes sense.

Our redemption at the cost of the life of God's Only Begotten Son is not understandable, does not make sense. The Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who are being saved it is the wisdom and the power of God. Amen.