Sermon Illustrations for Ash Wednesday (2022)
Illustration
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
A 2016 survey conducted by the University of London revealed that most people consider themselves morally superior to others. Ash Wednesday puts that myth to rest, with the awareness that “we are all dust and to dust we must return.” Martin Luther recited a German proverb of the Middle Ages so fit for this day: “All men are pleased with what they do. A world of fools I’m telling you.” (Weimar Ausgabe, Vol.48, p.10) Luther also explained how we are not as good as we think, that we cannot on our own shake our sin. We are cursed with it like we cannot get rid of the hair on our face:
The original sin in a man is like a beard, which though shaved off today... so that a man is very smooth around his mouth, yet grows again by tomorrow morning. As long as a man is alive, such growth of the hair and the beard does not stop. But when the shovel beats on his grave it stops. Just so original sin remains in us and bestirs itself as long as we live. (Tischreden, No.138)
This is clearly a time for repentance. John Calvin reminds us that God is always there for us, ready to forgive:
Though ye have too long abused God’s forbearance... even now God waits for you, and invites you to entertain hope of salvation... for it is not in the power of men to fix for themselves, as they please, the season of mercy. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XIV/1, p.56)
Mark E.
* * *
Isaiah 58:1-12
John Calvin nicely summarized the meaning of this text:
... in vain do men serve God, if they only offer to him trivial and bare ceremonies;
and that this is not the right and proper worship of God, who ... enjoins us to lead an upright and innocent life with our neighbors, willingly to give ourselves and our labours to them and to be ready to assist them readily and cheerfully, whenever it is necessary. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.VII/2, p.237)
Why these hard demands? Famed Christian martyr of the last century Dietrich Bonhoeffer clarifies the matter in a compelling way:
But the Bible does not really want to frighten us. God does not want people to be afraid... But he lets the person know so that he may perceive what life is... he lets us know – only so that we find the path to Jesus Christ, so that we may turn from our evil way to meet him. (A Testament to Freedom, p.230)
Martin Luther offers reflections on God’s comfort, always there for us in the low moments in life as we feel our sin or feel like giving up:
When are in drought, the Lord will fill you with abundance; you will have enough. But even in time of trouble you will have abundance, as he promised above, since he will lead you to pasture and guide you. (Luther’s Works, Vol.17, p.290)
Mark E.
* * *
2 Corinthians 5:20--6:10
Sometimes things are not what they appear to be. If you are aware of social media, you have likely seen the tennis shoe pop up with the question “is this shoe pink or gray?” Perhaps you heard “Laurel,” or was it “Yanny?” Was the dress blue and black or white and gold? Sometimes things are not what they appear to be.
As we come to Ash Wednesday, we are looking at how Paul describes the life of an ambassador of Jesus Christ. We can’t help but note the contrasts. He writes in verse 8-10, “We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
The color of the shoe, dress or what you heard depends largely on your perspective. The same is true with our walk with Jesus. The world sees it one way and God sees it differently. May we be seen with God’s eyes.
Bill T.
* * *
2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Paul is able to make an appeal to the Corinthians to be reconciled to God because they have a rich shared history, not only in worship, preaching and teaching, but also in their shared economy. Paul was an active, contributing member of the economic community through his tent making and repair business shared with Priscilla and Aquila. As he states in 6:1, they have worked together, and it is important that this work have not been in vain. Meaning no disrespect to anyone, how many of us have lost weight, only to regain it? How many have gone on smoking cessation programs, only to light up again as soon as emotionally we need a cigarette? How many of us have made positive changes in our lives, only to fall back into the same bad habits? Probably most of us. That’s one good reason we revisit Ash Wednesday every year, to rededicate ourselves to the changes in our orientation when we put the cross at the center of our lives, only to slip back into ways that contribute less to well-being, wholeness, and salvation, and more towards negative attitudes.
Frank R.
* * *
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
This is a text about phoniness in our spiritual lives. On that matter Martin Luther writes:
It is incredible how common this blasphemy and vice is in the world... how few people there are who do good works without seeking the honor or favor of the world this way. (Luther’s Works, Vol.21, p.32)
Only in grace (as Christians), he adds, are good works really possible:
Therefore no one can do a truly good work unless he is a Christian. If he does it as a man, then he is not doing it for the glory of God, but for his own glory and advantage. On the other hand, if he claims that it is for the glory of God, that is a lie that smells to high heaven. (Luther’s Works, Vol.12, p.134)
John Calvin made a similar, related point on how grace activates us:
Those who have been mercifully recovered from their falls will feel inflamed by the common law of charity to extend a helping hand to their brethren. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.V/1, p.302)
Mark E.
A 2016 survey conducted by the University of London revealed that most people consider themselves morally superior to others. Ash Wednesday puts that myth to rest, with the awareness that “we are all dust and to dust we must return.” Martin Luther recited a German proverb of the Middle Ages so fit for this day: “All men are pleased with what they do. A world of fools I’m telling you.” (Weimar Ausgabe, Vol.48, p.10) Luther also explained how we are not as good as we think, that we cannot on our own shake our sin. We are cursed with it like we cannot get rid of the hair on our face:
The original sin in a man is like a beard, which though shaved off today... so that a man is very smooth around his mouth, yet grows again by tomorrow morning. As long as a man is alive, such growth of the hair and the beard does not stop. But when the shovel beats on his grave it stops. Just so original sin remains in us and bestirs itself as long as we live. (Tischreden, No.138)
This is clearly a time for repentance. John Calvin reminds us that God is always there for us, ready to forgive:
Though ye have too long abused God’s forbearance... even now God waits for you, and invites you to entertain hope of salvation... for it is not in the power of men to fix for themselves, as they please, the season of mercy. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XIV/1, p.56)
Mark E.
* * *
Isaiah 58:1-12
John Calvin nicely summarized the meaning of this text:
... in vain do men serve God, if they only offer to him trivial and bare ceremonies;
and that this is not the right and proper worship of God, who ... enjoins us to lead an upright and innocent life with our neighbors, willingly to give ourselves and our labours to them and to be ready to assist them readily and cheerfully, whenever it is necessary. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.VII/2, p.237)
Why these hard demands? Famed Christian martyr of the last century Dietrich Bonhoeffer clarifies the matter in a compelling way:
But the Bible does not really want to frighten us. God does not want people to be afraid... But he lets the person know so that he may perceive what life is... he lets us know – only so that we find the path to Jesus Christ, so that we may turn from our evil way to meet him. (A Testament to Freedom, p.230)
Martin Luther offers reflections on God’s comfort, always there for us in the low moments in life as we feel our sin or feel like giving up:
When are in drought, the Lord will fill you with abundance; you will have enough. But even in time of trouble you will have abundance, as he promised above, since he will lead you to pasture and guide you. (Luther’s Works, Vol.17, p.290)
Mark E.
* * *
2 Corinthians 5:20--6:10
Sometimes things are not what they appear to be. If you are aware of social media, you have likely seen the tennis shoe pop up with the question “is this shoe pink or gray?” Perhaps you heard “Laurel,” or was it “Yanny?” Was the dress blue and black or white and gold? Sometimes things are not what they appear to be.
As we come to Ash Wednesday, we are looking at how Paul describes the life of an ambassador of Jesus Christ. We can’t help but note the contrasts. He writes in verse 8-10, “We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
The color of the shoe, dress or what you heard depends largely on your perspective. The same is true with our walk with Jesus. The world sees it one way and God sees it differently. May we be seen with God’s eyes.
Bill T.
* * *
2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Paul is able to make an appeal to the Corinthians to be reconciled to God because they have a rich shared history, not only in worship, preaching and teaching, but also in their shared economy. Paul was an active, contributing member of the economic community through his tent making and repair business shared with Priscilla and Aquila. As he states in 6:1, they have worked together, and it is important that this work have not been in vain. Meaning no disrespect to anyone, how many of us have lost weight, only to regain it? How many have gone on smoking cessation programs, only to light up again as soon as emotionally we need a cigarette? How many of us have made positive changes in our lives, only to fall back into the same bad habits? Probably most of us. That’s one good reason we revisit Ash Wednesday every year, to rededicate ourselves to the changes in our orientation when we put the cross at the center of our lives, only to slip back into ways that contribute less to well-being, wholeness, and salvation, and more towards negative attitudes.
Frank R.
* * *
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
This is a text about phoniness in our spiritual lives. On that matter Martin Luther writes:
It is incredible how common this blasphemy and vice is in the world... how few people there are who do good works without seeking the honor or favor of the world this way. (Luther’s Works, Vol.21, p.32)
Only in grace (as Christians), he adds, are good works really possible:
Therefore no one can do a truly good work unless he is a Christian. If he does it as a man, then he is not doing it for the glory of God, but for his own glory and advantage. On the other hand, if he claims that it is for the glory of God, that is a lie that smells to high heaven. (Luther’s Works, Vol.12, p.134)
John Calvin made a similar, related point on how grace activates us:
Those who have been mercifully recovered from their falls will feel inflamed by the common law of charity to extend a helping hand to their brethren. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.V/1, p.302)
Mark E.
