Happy Ash Wednesday!

That phrase sounds a little weird. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, which is supposed to be marked by an attitude of sadness as we remember the human experience of our Lord Jesus, brought to a tormented climax by his death on the cross.

In “Letters from the Land of Cancer” Walter Wangerin shares intimate moments from letters to friends as he nears the end of his life. In 2006-7 his cancer slowed, which gave him time to reflect on life and to write. He shares that in such times we have two choices: “Wail, plead, beg, make deals with friends and with the Infinite. Sink into despair… Or else, prepare.”

Lent is a season of preparation. We are saying good-bye to the old life, to old expectations and old values and old ways of doing things. As much as we may be fond of our old life, it is not God’s way, not the life that God has for us. Or we may be glad to be rid of the old life, but we still mourn it because it is familiar. And change always involves some pain. So we mourn the passing of the old life.
For those who don’t understand the meaning of the Resurrection, who feel oppressed by the religious establishment, there’s no such thing as a good Lent or a Happy Ash Wednesday. Might as well party like there’s no tomorrow on Fat Tuesday because you have to put a lid on it when Lent starts and no one wants you to be happy.

But for followers of Jesus, we claim Lent as a time of preparation, knowing that leaving behind the old life lets us welcome the Kingdom of Heaven in which the good and loving King of kings and Lord of lords reigns first in us and ultimately in our world. He has broken into our world in the Incarnation, proclaimed the Kingdom in his life and teachings, bought our redemption through his death on the cross, and become the first of a new humanity in his resurrection. Those who mourn will be comforted. We know our mourning will turn to dancing. In fact, NT Wright says that we should mark the week starting with Easter with champagne breakfast every day! Pull out all the stops! Lent should be preparing us for a time of celebration that obliterates any sense of sadness or mourning and makes all the Christmas festivities pale in comparison.

So “Happy Ash Wednesday”!