Remember Man That You Are Dust...
Posted by: tony on 02/21/2007 12:28 PM
Updated by: tony on 02/21/2007 12:28 PM
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Expires: 03/24/2007 12:00 AM
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 ...and to dust you shall return.
These are the words which were spoken on Ash Wednesday when we children stood in line to get smudged with ashes. Now the words have been changed: "Turn away from sin; Be faithful to the Gospel".
I like the old words better. Part of it is the passive-aggressive fun I get from the feminists at the words "Remember man...", but more importantly it reminded us of how brief our exile here on earth is.
"To dust you shall return"
As ominous and somewhat creepy these words are, this is what we are born for. This is what we live our lives for; to shed these stinking skinsuits and return to eternal communion with the God who made us.
Sometimes I believe we all forget that life is short, and Heaven (or Hell) is forever. We should remember this, both to prepare ourselves to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel, but also to hug and kiss family members, cherish our friends for the brief time we have them here, and remain true so that we may be reunited with them once again.
As we pray in Hail Holy Queen: "...after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus."
I'd like to wish all of my readers a long and healthy exile, but remember, as sung by Kansas in "Dust in the Wind", "...all your money won't another minute buy."
Have a blessed and productive Lenten season.
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