A good spiritual life connects to where we come from, even in the midst of where we are now. It gives us roots. It ties us to the past in a way that enables us to know who we are, and where we are, in the present. But it also grounds us in the expectation of our future hope as we consider the certainty that comes with our mortality. This is perhaps no more prevalent than in the Service of Ash we will celebrate on February 22nd.

Every year, Ash Wednesday calls us back to the paths from which we have strayed, refocuses our attention on both the way and the goal of our journey through life. It is a continuing reminder across the centuries that life is transient, that change is immanent, and therefore also urgent. Ash Wednesday invites us to get back in touch with the nexus between the eternal God and our finite condition.

Ash Wednesday is therefore, at its core, an invitation to hear and respond to the Gospel one more time. It is the night when we consider again the words of Jesus: "The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Together, we turn our eyes towards Jerusalem and diligently, deliberately, move to the Cross and onward through death to the Hope of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

This year, we will hear a special homily by ABC Community Member, Kent Harrop.