Branded

I was watching some hockey this week – and anyone who could have seen it would have had no doubt what team I support. I was wearing a Jets shirt and hoodie and hat, and my house socks are branded with the Jets logo; even my tea mug was from the 2016 Heritage game. Go Jets Go!

In our modern society, it’s not uncommon for us to display brands: our shoes have logos and tag lines, our clothing declares allegiances (to sports teams or companies), we carry bags or find masks that show our support for one brand over another. And these allegiances can be easily changed with a simple change of attire.

I found my extreme weekend-Jets-wear to be a bit ironic given where we are in the liturgical calendar: this week we will recognise Ash Wednesday. A day to formally enter into Lent; a time of prayer and fasting and almsgiving. And we make this entry with a symbolic branding of our lives aligning with Christ. 

The mark of the cross on our foreheads reminds us of so many aspects of our spiritual journey: in our baptism we receive the chrismation in oil on that spot, this is reaffirmed at our confirmation, anointing in sickness reiterates this connection. We are bearing the mark of Christ, declaring to the world who and whose we are. It is a powerful ritual and tradition in our faith. 

So this year, whether people receive the physical imposition of ashes or not, it will be different. Those churches offering the ashes will do so at a distance, either in take-home packages or with single-use disposable implements. In our congregation here in Lunenburg, we will not gather in person, but in prayer as we live-stream prayers at noon. The reminder of our temporality on earth and permanence in Christ is no less poignant, however, as the power of prayer is primary. 

And so, unlike with modern brands, regardless if we are physically seen wearing this ashen symbol, we wear it and bear it every day. For this spiritual marking and sealing is undeniable – and for that we can be grateful. And I’ll still declare “Go Jets Go!” when the hockey game is on, more importantly I aspire to live the implications of the mark of the cross every moment of my life.