From dust to deliverance

Gregory Mussmacher God Bless!!

From dust to deliverance

Today is Ash Wednesday. You may see Catholics and various other Christian groups walking around with smudges of ash on their foreheads. It’s discomforting for the believer who bears this mark, as well as for the onlooker who wants to do something about it. Some will wonder, “Should I tell that person she has dirt on her forehead?” similar to challenging mealtime moments when you have to say, “you have some food on your face." Still more uncomfortable than this visible symbol is the sentiment that comes with it: “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return!”
What is this dusty ash supposed to mean? Let’s take a look at our dusty origins!
In the Old Testament Scriptures for this upcoming Sunday’s Mass (i.e., the First Sunday of Lent), we are reminded of our theological origins. We come from Adam and Eve – a man who was made out of dust, and a woman who came from his rib. Those are pretty humble origins! Remember, humble comes from the Latin word “humus” which means “dirt” or “earth.” Scientifically, despite the desire to dramatically create life as a loveless experiment, our biological origins are not much more glamorous. Instead of “dust” per se, we were formed out of two seemingly disconnected but humble fluids – sperm and egg. Sorry for the graphic biology class. But the point is, our origins are truly HUMBLE! But like Adam and Eve, we were ultimately created from an act of love. Adam was formed because of God’s procreative love. God is obviously Pro-Life! God also chose that Eve be given life so Adam could love someone. Similarly, God formed us for the same reasons – so that He can love us, we can love Him, and we can love one another.
Enter the season of Lent: a time to become more humble, and not just by giving up chocolate, soda, sausages on Fridays, and swearing. Lent gives us an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of God’s love for us by entering more deeply into humble prayer with Jesus! The Lenten season will therefore bring us to more dust – the dust of the desert. This travel through the dusty desert recalls the Jewish people’s 40 years of desert pilgrimage until they reached the Promised Land. It’s an invitation to walk with Jesus for 40 days of fasting and praying in the desert. These “chosen ones” (Christ and the Jewish people) were brought through the desert and the dust heap because it ultimately reflected God’s love! Huh? Yes! Believe it or not, God can actually lead us to and through the dusty, dry, and lifeless sufferings of the desert to strengthen our understanding of His love for us and to increase our love for Him!
I know this may make you feel uncomfortable, but the greatest of Saints have all described these dark and lonely moments of desert days as Jesus did. The desert makes us depend on a Higher Power, not just human strength. The spiritual desert makes us thirst for the Lord – the source of living waters. The desert oasis reminds us of just how easily tempted we can be by the false and fleeting images of happiness. The dust of the desert reminds us of our mortality – something that makes us very, very uncomfortable – especially if it marks us right on our forehead!
During the Season of Lent, I will dedicate the weekly Blasts to particular Lenten themes. One week will be about Prayer; another about Fasting; and the others will be about Almsgiving, Patience, and then some meditations for the Triduum. With the proper perspective and healthy and generous practices of the Lenten Themes – Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving – we will not fear the 40 days of dusty desert purification. In fact, we can rise victorious! Just be sure that Jesus accompanies us every dusty step of the way.

Operation Rice Bowl Recipes
You may or may not know, but I am part of the Catholic Relief Service Global Fellows Program. We help raise awareness of this truly generous and faith-filled organization. One of the CRS programs is called Operation Rice Bowl. I’m sure you may have heard about it from Church or your local School. It’s a small cardboard box that you can keep in your home or classroom that has various facts about world hunger. It also has a slot to put in your coins, as a way of practicing Lenten Almsgiving. At the end of the 40 days, these little boxes are returned, collected and monies distributed. I am proud to say only less than 10 % of all contributions goes to CRS administration. In other words, about 90% goes directly to provide food for the poor and supplies and materials for developing self-sustenance among the various lands and villages. It’s truly a remarkable organization!
During Lent, we have the opportunity to learn more about our own humble origins by recognizing the plight of those who are poor and hungry in our world. The Operation Rice Bowl program gives you the chance to even experiment with a developing nation’s own foods and recipes. This provides a recipe for wonderful dinner conversation with your own family!
This week, try this recipe from the Congo and read about how a CRS worker made a difference for people in this country. Although Congo is not a desert in the literal sense, it is in a spiritual sense – a place where we can find Jesus at work and prayer! For the recipe, [click here].

The Meaning of the Ashes
As we begin the season of Lent, it is good to consider the powerful words that the minister says when imposing the ashes on our foreheads. There are two approved formulaic statements in this regard. These are worth meditation and prayer!
The first is one we already discussed:
Remember man, you are dust and to dust you shall return.
The second is almost a “follow-up” to this recognition:
Turn away from sin and believe in the Good News.
Amen!
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