Marked as Dust, Claimed by Grace - Ash Wednesday Homily

On Ash Wednesday, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the visible mark of ashes placed upon our foreheads and the deeper meaning behind it. While baptism marks us invisibly as Christ’s own forever, the ashes make the cross unmistakably clear. Father Michael offers a powerful image: the ash cross forms a capital “I” that is crossed out — the self that separates us from God, the ego that insists on standing alone.

Ash Wednesday is not merely about guilt or groveling. It is about being reminded that we are dust, yet deeply loved. The cross drawn across the “I” becomes a sign of Christ’s arms stretched wide, welcoming us home. Lent begins not with condemnation, but with reconnection — a call to repentance, forgiveness, and wholeness.