Text: Matt 6:1-6, 16-21
In the name of + Jesus. Amen.
“Remember, O man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
It’s easy to forget this universal truth, even as we universally try to forget it. We don’t like to confront our own mortality. We change the subject. We speak in euphemisms to avoid the obvious. And we take all sorts of pills and powders and potions to cover up the evidence that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. We buy Oil of Olay and Grecian Formula to create the illusion of youthful appearance. Bawdy pharmaceutical commercials try to lure an aging population to behave like hormonal teenagers.
“Remember, O man…”
Remember, O man, that man was created in the image and likeness of God, man and woman, perfect in every way, without cells that would age and without the curse of disease and decay. Remember, O man, how you sinned, man and woman, surrendering the perfection given to us as a gift. Remember, O man, that “the wages of sin is death,” and that “we all like sheep have gone astray.”
“Remember, O man,” that no amount of cosmetics or chemicals can take away sin, the very thing that has brought death into our world and into our own lives.
We need to remember because we try so hard to forget. We make ourselves busy with all sorts of distractions so as not to remember that we are dust, that we are sinners, and that we will indeed return to dust. We work and make money, which we spend on toys and games and distractions so that we won’t remember. We invest years of our lives in sports and television and hobbies so that we won’t remember. We find all sorts of excuses to avoid studying God’s Word and hearing the Word preached so that we can’t be reminded. We drown our mortality in entertainment and distractions, all so that we won’t remember. But it doesn’t work.
“Remember, O man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
This is why Jesus is constantly reminding us of realities that cut through the clutter and get right to the point. Jesus says: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people to be seen by them,” as if it matters what others think of us. For “remember, O man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Our heavenly reward from our heavenly Father is far more important than the temporary praise of fallen men in this fallen life.
“Remember, O man…”
Our Lord reminds us: “When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you as the hypocrites do.” For, as our Lord reminds us, such people “have received their reward” already in this short life. But remember, says our Lord, “your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
“Remember, O man…”
“And when you pray,” our Lord reminds us, “you must not be like the hypocrites” who put on a good show, eager to be seen by others. But again, “remember, O man” that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
“Remember, O man…”
“And when you fast,” says our Lord, “do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.” For, as our Lord reminds us, such people “have received their reward.” “But when you fast” (“when” you fast, as our Lord reminds us), “anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others.” And our Lord reminds us again, “your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Some may feel that we should not “disfigure our faces” with an ashen cross, but rather should “anoint your head and wash your face.” But, dear friends, the cross of ashes is not a sign of your fasting, it is a sign of your mortality. It is not a boast about how good we are, but just the opposite. It is a stark reminder to us and to all men who are likewise marked for death – whether with or without a cross – that we are indeed dust, and to dust we shall return.
“Remember, O man…”
If this reality drives you to fast as a sign of repentance, than your fasting should be in secret. There is no need to proclaim to the world what we are giving up for Lent or to make a show of it.
“Remember, O man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
And most of all, dear friends, please pay heed to our Lord’s last reminder. We may choose not to confront our mortality by avoiding God’s Word and by refusing to strive against our mortal sinful nature in a struggle to lead a godly life. Instead, we may turn to the world’s allurements of bread and circuses, of sports and sexuality, of hobbies and music and entertainments. None of these are bad in and of themselves. In fact, in their right context, they are gifts of God. But how many people use these things as an idol, as a substitute for the Word of God? How many would not think of missing a parade but will gladly miss Divine Service? How many would not think of missing even a few minutes of the game, but think nothing of missing Bible class? How many will think nothing of spending money on restaurants while shorting the collection plate as the church struggles to pay bills?
“Remember, O man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Remember what our Lord reminds us again: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“Remember, O man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
On that day when we return to dust, how important will that jersey be? That prized throw? That antique car? That smartphone? That laptop or iPad? On that day when we return to dust, who will remember who the MVP in the last Super Bowl was? Who had the biggest house in the neighborhood? Who could afford the plastic surgery? Whose kids went to the best colleges? On that day when we return to dust, where will our treasure be?
“Remember, O man…”
We need to remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. We need to remember that God loved us even in our sinfulness and in our mortality to the point where He sent His only-begotten Son into our flesh, to likewise partake of death – even the death of the cross. “Remember, O man,” that God the Son became a man, so that He might remember you before His Father in heaven!
“Remember, O man…”
Remember that Christ died on the cross for you, that he did not bear ashes symbolic of death on His forehead as a sign, but rather He bore our cross unto the death that He did not deserve, so that He could mark us with the sign of the cross at Holy Baptism. Remember that this baptism is not simply water that washes away ashes and dust from the body, but rather washes away sin and death, drowns the Old Adam destined for dust and ashes, and marks us with His cross so that even though we will die, yet we shall live!
“Remember, O man!
Dear brother and sisters, by the Lord’s grace and in His love, let us use our remaining time before we return to ashes wisely, putting God’s Word first, allowing Jesus to remind us that though we shall die, we shall conquer death because He has conquered death! Let use this time of Lent as an opportunity to repent of our foolishness and our forgetfulness of what is truly important. Let us turn from death and toward life! Let us store up our treasures in heaven, and remember that all things in this fallen world are only so much dust and ashes, but that in Christ, we have “treasure in heaven,” the treasure of forgiveness, salvation, and a life that will have no end.
“Remember, O man!”
Amen.
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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