Where you there when the sun refused to shine.

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46, ESV)
I wanted to take a moment out of my journey through the Gospel of St. John to recognize Ash Wednesday.  Today we begin the celebration of Lent. It is not something the scripture commands so I would not say it is a requirement of church life. I would say that it is a healthy practice. We are six weeks away from Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of The Lord Jesus after he conquers sin and death. The next 40 day are to be spent calling to mind our own sin and brokenness. The new life bestowed on us who are undeserving came at a tremendous cost. God in the flesh put on a cross and killed by the very people his death opens a door for. We demanded our savior’s blood and for it we are offered paradise. Yet I will remember today that the death of the savior was a day of mourning. Creation stood still and recognized their creator’s death. “Where you there when the sun refused to shine,” the old hymn asks. I was not, yet I am responsible and I am grateful. For in that moment the veil separating man from the Holy of Holies was torn and the threshold of heaven unlocked to wretch like me.
Oh God that I would never take you for granted, that I would cherish new life, that I would tell the world of your love.
Sola Christus!