The meaning of ashes on our foreheads takes us to the ground of our beings where God’s truth and mystery dwells. In awe, we stand gazing at our own lives and moments of wonder that help us to gaze at the cross with humbled and expanded hearts. From ashes to awe to the cross we stand in our truth before the crucified one and allow God to be God.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us to wash the feet of others, even through misunderstanding or betrayal. Do we also allow others to wash our feet? If we can do both things, wash and be washed by others, we will be transformed by the love of Christ.

How can we embrace our weaknesses in order to humbly accept who we are and hold the world in wonder? Against the travails of hiking, St. Paul offers some insight to help us overcome our perfectionism and rely on God’s grace.