Here’s
a liturgy for the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday. It was written by Bill Loader.
A Liturgy
for Ash Wednesday
A
mangled body on a cross
stands
for all mangled bodies,
victims
of torture and violence,
wizened
and misshapen bodies of malnutrition and poverty.
My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?
The
burning which generates the ashes
reflects the misdirected passions of abuse
and the searing apathy
which renders hope barren
and suppresses change.
reflects the misdirected passions of abuse
and the searing apathy
which renders hope barren
and suppresses change.
Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing
To take
the sign of the cross
means
to allow oneself to be stretched out wide
in
solidarity with the Christ
and in
compassion for all,
even at
cost,
and to
believe against defeat and despair
that
hope can rise and life begin again.
Father, into your hands I commend
my spirit
Receive
the sign of the cross.
(done according to local custom,
making the sign of the cross on
the forehead)
—
prepared by William Loader, 22 February 2004.
Posted on Bill Loader’s Home Page. http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/ashlit.htm
