The ashes of Ash Wednesday are icons proclaiming the hiddenness of God’s ways. And God’s ways are hidden. Paul tells us that in our lesson:

We are treated as imposters, and yet are true; as unknown, 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 (6:8b-6:10).

It does not make sense, does it? How can we be imposters and yet the real thing, sorrowful but full of joy, poor but able to enrich others? Are you comfortable with these tensions in life? Why can’t God simply will an end to death, sadness, suffering, and poverty, so we could live just ordinary American lives without all the hassles and confusion? What are we doing here on Ash Wed…