PRAYERS FOR YOUR LENT

 

 

MAY YOUR LENT BE BLESSED!

     (our wish for this holy season for you)

 

Repent,  and believe in the Gospel.

 

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

 

(an Ash Wednesday reflection by Fr. Karl Rahner, SJ)

 

Dust -- truly a splendid symbol.   Dust,  this is the image of the commonplace.   There is always more than enough of it.   One fleck is as good as the next.  Dust is the image of anonymity:  one fleck is like the next, and all are nameless.   It is the symbol of indifference:   What does it matter whether it is this dust or that dust?   It is all the same.   Dust is the symbol of nothingness:  because it lies around so loosely, it is easily stirred up, it blows around blindly, is stepped upon and crushed -- and nobody notices.   It is a nothing that is just enough to be -- a nothing.  Dust is the symbol of coming to nothing:  it has no content,  no form,  no shape;  it blows away, the empty, indifferent, colorless, aimless, unstable booty of senseless change, to be found everywhere, and nowhere at home.   Truly, then, scripture is right.   We are dust.  We are always in the process of dying.  We are the beings who set our course for death, when we set out on life's journey, and steer for death, clearly and inexorably.   We are the only beings who know about this tendency to death.   We are dust!