Ashes done, now let us move on.

When one is conscious of having failed, and failed dismally, what does one do? For the people of Israel, lament was a powerful way of prayer. It was a firm part of their tradition and, because of the prominence of lament in the Book of the Psalms, it was an abiding feature of their worship.

We find in the post-exilic prayers in the Old Testament (prayers in the aftermath of the traumatic experience of the sixth century Babylonian Exile) are encouragement and comfort. They prayed: we have sinned, we deserve all that has come upon us. But are we depressed? No! We acknowledge our sin, our shameful ingratitude and we turn to God and pray: we have sinned, we have failed - but you are you.

It is, in some sort, an anticipation of the good news, 'I shall arise and go to my Father' (Lk 15:18).

Adapted from Wilfrid Harrington
Spirituality
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