From Ashes to Easter

By Nancy J. Mayer

The deacon's thumb blackened with ash reached for my forehead , “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

  Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ opened to great controversy this Ash Wednesday. The critics seem to agree upon two points: (1) The movie is bloody, gory and violent. (2) It accurately depicts the physiological and psychological agony of crucifixion.

In response to the movie Cardinal Egan (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York) sent a letter to his flock reminding them that Jesus gave his life for us, it wasn't taken from him.  

By Ash Wednesday of 2005 the media hype and controversy over how the Jews are portrayed in the film will have died down. The cardinal's letter long discarded. But the deacon will still be there with his haunting words and dirty thumb placing a cross on my forehead. We will move through Lent with our various fasts and rituals. On Good Friday we will once again sing a hymn that asks if we were there when they crucified my Lord.

The dust from which I came and to which I shall return was on Caiaphas' lips when he ordered Jesus turned over to the Romans. It was on Pilate's hands when he washed them, then proceeded to sign Jesus' death warrant. It was in the beads of sweat on the centurion's brow as he ordered the nail driven through the flesh. It clung to the skirts of the women's clothing as they wailed in despair.  

As dust I was there in the midst of this.

Last night I washed lettuce for my salad. Dirt ran down the drain. I closed my eyes and saw Jesus as the arthritic migrant worker struggling under the weight of a crate of vegetables on his back. . . I heard Christ asking for a drink as I purchased a $20 sweater. It was made in a foreign factory by children who had no bathroom or water breaks.

The Bad News: The crucifixion of the Christ isn't just an event that took place 2000 years ago. It is an event that takes place on a daily basis. Last night I washed lettuce for my salad. Dirt ran down the drain. I closed my eyes and saw Jesus as the arthritic migrant worker struggling under the weight of a crate of vegetables on his back. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do popped into mind as Anderson Cooper from CNN reported that three Vietnamese girls were set for auction on E-bay: cyber-dust. I heard Christ asking for a drink as I purchased a $20 sweater. It was made in a foreign factory by children who had no bathroom or water breaks: the rags covering their body caked in dust.

This too is my dust.

The Good News: the resurrection of the Christ isn't just an event that took place 2000 years ago either. It manifests when we enact laws that protect and honor dignity and life – not only in our own country, but in all countries. It is present when we use our talents and time to love our neighbor and ourselves.

The Most Excellent News: as a resurrected people we are in the midst of this too.

Each Easter morn the deacon greets us on the church steps with the words, The Lord is risen. Our response, He is risen indeed. For while our bones are doomed to dust, our souls have been freed to live out the Good News.

Nancy J. Mayer writes from New York City. She may be reached by email at mayern212@aol.com .