There have been times in my life when the words of a song have reached deep into my being and touched my spirit in what I call holy moments of oneness with self, God and creation. One such song is the Lenten hymn “We Rise Again from Ashes”. I am particularly drawn to the Second Verse.
We offer you our failures,
We offer you attempts,
The gifts not fully given,
The dreams not fully dreamt.
Give our stumblings direction,
Give our visions wider view,
An offering of ashes, an offering to you.
In a reflection written by Father Ron Rolheiser he states that more people go to church on Ash Wednesday than on any other day of the year. Why? As a symbol, they are blunt, and speak the language of the soul. Something inside each of us knows why receiving the Ashes means so much “Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return.”
As I reflect upon the ashes I will receive this Lent, I will be reminded of human frailty that keeps me from being open to the transformative power of the Spirit at work in me. I will be praying for the grace to seek direction for my stumblings and a wider view for my visions, all the while mindful that Easter is on the horizon.
- Sr. Lucy Godfrey, csj