The ashes on our foreheads remind us of a lot of things, but in particular:

1. The ashes remind us of our origins. “Remember that you are dust…”  In the beginning, before life, God took dirt and breathed life into it.  How will we allow God to breathe new life into us this Lent — esp. through our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving?
2. The ashes also remind us of our sinfulness. The dirt reminds us we’re sinners; the cross reminds us that we have a savior. In the OT, folks would jump into pits of dirt, ash….as a way of saying, “I’ve made a mess of my life by my sins….”  and only God can cleanse, purify, sanctify us.  How will we let God do that this Lent in and through our prayer, fasting and almsgiving?