Grace and Peace to you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

On Ash Wednesday we start our Lenten journey, from the depths of winter to the glorious blossoming of spring. 

From the ashes of death to eternal life in the resurrection, we are anointed by God from our beginning in baptism to life forever in the kingdom of God. 

Jesus is the life giving water, shared abundantly in baptism, washing us and cleansing us with pure love. 

In Psalm 51 verse 10 we specifically ask, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” 

Tonight Ash Wednesdays marks the spot where we begin our Lenten journey. 

A journey of 40 days that invites us to rescue and restore our relationship with God. 

A relationship that trains us to be disciples much like we train our heart through exercise. 

Just as our heart beats to the needs of our body, God works through us in the spirit that restores our hearts making us whole through Jesus. 

God breathes life into the dust like the powerful contractions of our heart that circulates life giving oxygen to the cells of our body. 

Matthew’s gospel for today begins with a call to ‘Beware’, to be aware of what it means and looks like to be a disciple. 

God’s message for us is not only to beware, but know how to behave. 

Going on a fire call with lights and sirens blaring notified everyone nearby that something was going on.

Whatever the situation was, we took life safety very seriously, and we were trained to carry this out with respect and dignity for those who were experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives. 

Someone was always watching how we behaved on the fire ground. 

Sometimes in the heat of battle we may not do things that appear to complement our goal, but we also take responsibility for our actions. 

Our mission was to hold life to the highest standard, to save lives. Our guideline was, “Risk a lot to save a lot.” 

I think this is fitting for what God has given to us all. 

God who risked everything with giving his only son Jesus to die for us on the cross and be raised to eternal life. 

When we respond to the call of life we also have a goal and purpose to give respect and dignity to our relationship with God. 

We pray to be rescued from the bloodshed and perils of life. 

The ashes that will mark your forehead is a visual reminder of God’s steadfast love. 

God credits our service, our practice, through how we behave, by helping others out of love, not for personal gain. 

Give alms to give alms, not to be praised. 

Pray in private, with yourself and God, the Father hears and sees you. When fasting, take care to look like you’re not seen by others. Do the right thing when nobody's watching, because it’s the right thing to do.

I learned many things in the fire service and one of the greatest lessons was to respect other people. 

Going from the simplest call, like opening a locked car to a fully involved house fire, our goal was to get there safely, rescue any people and put out the fire. 

The final goal was to restore them to safety. 

Whether you are a Christian, or a firefighter, grandma, grandpa, cousin, brother, sister, we are bound together by the spirit of a loving heart. 

iThe pride of making a rescue, putting out a fire, or saving some ducklings out of a storm drain was why we answered the call of the pager. 

God invites us to store up treasures in heaven. 

Treasure that is marked by a cross on our forehead. 

You are the treasure that God loves. 

God who is there to rescue you in times of trouble. 

Jesus who restores us through his death and resurrection. 

The Holy Spirit who cleanses our hearts. 

These ashes are a reminder, a sign of who you are and who made you. 

In moments of victory and defeat, when you feel more important than your neighbor or like a terrible failure, God reminds us of his love for you. 

Our journey to our treasure begins and ends with the cross, with Jesus. Calm, cool, and collected, a new beginning with steadfast love. God calls you into a beautiful life just as you are.

Take time in prayer and talk with God. 

Prayers filled with Joy, other times lament, or even bitter cries. God has rescued you from the fear of not knowing the end. 

You are restored to live in harmony with God. 

God invites us to offer our troubled spirit and broken heart as a sacrifice. 

In this season of Lent we can let go of our feelings of inadequacy, fear, and even hate. 

Beware and be aware of God in your life. 

Center yourself with God, in prayer and in quiet practice. 

Steadfast love, Hesed, in Hebrew, is calm and patient. 

You have the ability to turn down the noise and tune into the glowing spirit of calm, like a warm fire. 

A well tended fire of love that warms the heart and melts icy fear. 

As you receive this cross of ashes you are marked with the greatest love from God, Jesus Christ. 

The weight of the cross, the suffering, and the death has all been taken by Jesus and this cross of ashes on your forehead leads our heart to eternal love. 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

For this we can say, “Thanks be to God.” AMEN