We have three options for Ashes at my churches today, in the afternoon each church has a set time to show up, and then in the evening we'll go together to worship with a nearby third congregation.

I cooked for my community last night--not exactly Mardi Gras--but a rich risotto full of fat cheeses, cream, shrimp, and mushrooms. As I've gotten older, and the world more chaotic, these rituals that seemed so arbitrary to me are now important in their simplicity. Good dinner followed by a day of repentance, ashes, and community.

Ash Wednesday

"God created you from dust and to God you shall return." I'm sure those aren't exactly the right words, but it is what I say to parishioners and visitors alike as I place slightly too oily ashes on their foreheads or hands.

Growing up, Lent was a Catholic thing, by which I mean everyone in our community was engaged. The three protestants in my elementary school classroom showed up on-time on Ash Wednesday, and we waited for our ash marked friends to show up after church. Our cafeteria served meatless lunches. I knew that Lent was about fasting although we called it "giving up for Lent."

What I didn't know was that Lent has three penitent activities: prayer, fasting, and charity. Interesting that I didn't know the charity component! (Although I remember now that my church's "Bunnies for Bolivia" fundraising was during Lent.) What is really interesting is that in 1966 Pope Paul VI in chapter III of the Apostolic Constitution, changed the approach to fasting. Where economic well-being is prominent, the pope writes that the church witness of asceticism is important. Where people live in poverty, however "it will be more pleasing to God the Father and more useful to the members of the Body of Christ if Christians—while they seek in every way to promote better social justice—offer their suffering in prayer to the Lord in close union with the Cross of Christ."

Essentially, everyone engages in prayer, but people with excess should practice Lent with asceticism and charity, while those without enough should simply offer the suffering they already experience as their penitence. And that everyone should, as part of their Lenten practice, “promote better social justice.”

I encourage congregations to focus on what they can do for justice during this Lenten season. Instead of giving something up, consider doing one action every day to protect people who are trans, to protect people who are immigrants, or to protect the environment. Choose something that helps maintain our social safety net. Imagine that your act of penitence this season could be to protect the people in our nation.

What is your church doing, or thinking about doing these days? How are you addressing Justice in your congregation? Just reply to this email to let me know what's happening.
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I've written about Ash Wednesday before! See those posts here.

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Repairers of the Breach, the organization created by Rev. Dr. William Barber, is having a gathering at the Supreme Court at 11 am today. They will also be online. See information here.

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The work of justice can be about giving up "things" for Lent. This article from Religion New Service (RNS) offers a Boycott of Target as a Lenten Discipline and a support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Boycotters are encouraged to support black businesses instead.

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Instead of giving up meat, consider these 18 acts this Lent offered by Pope Francis.

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