"Don’t you treasure up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but you treasure up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (St. Matthew 6: 19-21)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. Ash Wednesday is Confessing-Your-Sins Day! Today is Holy Absolution Day in the Christian Church. We learn from the Small Catechism that, "Confession has two parts: first, that we confess our sins and, second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness from the pastor and from God Himself, not doubting but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven by God in Heaven. "
First part: Confess your sins. Ash Wednesday faces us up to our sins, to all the idols we have treasured up for ourselves. Ash Wednesday is Idol-Repentance Day. Yes, idols. We don’t usually think of ourselves as idol worshipers, but we have plenty of hem.
Dr. Luther said in the Large Catechism, "That in which you put your trust is your god." So, what are you treasuring up for yourself? What ’s the thing which you hold most dear? What can you not live without? There ’s your idol!
Part two is that we receive Holy Absolution. The ashes can be used to draw a cross on your forehead to remind us where our forgiveness was won. Jesus took all our sins, all the places we have put our trust and our hearts other than in Jesus alone. On Good Friday, Jesus took them all on Himself and He died. In forty-seven days, we ’ll celebrate Jesus ’ resurrection on the Third Day. On the Cross, Jesus won our forgiveness.
Why did Jesus do all this for us? Pray the Collect for today and find out! After that confess your sins and hear from your pastor as from Christ Himself, "I forgive you all your sins." Today is, after all, Holy Absolution Day. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
"Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen." (the Collect for Ash Wednesday)
Higher Things Reflections are written by Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX