A Meditation on Sin and our Salvation – Ashes to Ashes
by Rita Davidson
Most people as they wake up each morning they head for the shower never giving a thought to just what they are doing…But, here I have come to realize the great symbolism that showers can mean to a Catholic.
Let me explain..In our old home we came to realize the fact that we all needed to minimize our showers there. With seven of us and a small water tank, one could not take the luxury of long hot baths or showers. If so, one persons indulgence meant that someone else must do without. This was quickly brought to our attention one day when our brakes suddenly failed and we found ourselves being driven to a motel to spend the night.
Having never experienced the ‘joys’ of being away from home..it was a great excitement. But, one of the most enjoyable things for all our children was that they couldn’t believe (at first) that they could ALL take a bath/shower and the water wouldn’t run out!!
I still remember that day..we never realized how accustomed they had become to limiting showers/baths.
Back to our shower scheduling at home:
I was pondering one day…just what do we take a shower for? How long could we go without one? Today so many people are so concerned with being CLEAN.
You see advertisements everywhere for soap and lather and bubbles and skin creams and lotions and perfumes and laced, as they are, with immodesty wherever they can fit that in too. But, as a society we are OBSESSED with being clean. Now we have to wash our hands entering a hospital, entering a doctors office and even a grocery store! Antibacterial soap is everywhere! If you dare sneeze, people look at you with disgust, like your a leper, and how dare you come out of your house, to infect us?
But we have fallen for this ourselves too. For example; How many of us can’t stand the thought of our children going to bed with dirty feet, after a day in the sandbox?
How many of us will rouse them from their sleep just so they can have a bath…but will allow the greater evils to creep into their lives with worldly entertainments and attachments and immodest programs, books, and even talk. While their pure and innocent souls are young we keep them ever so clean on the outside, but as they age we allow them to become infected so that no amount of bathing will ever clean what they have become mired in.
Which brings me back to the obsession society today has with bathing.
Could it not be closely connected to their need for redemption and penance?
As a society that has turned its’ back on its’ Creator is there not some unspoken guilt in society that they are trying to wash off?
As Catholic’s do we really make use of confession and penance as we should, as the Saints did in times past?
When you think of the consequences of neglecting a bath, one can see the disturbances that are evoked in people when they discover the smell that is emanating from a person standing in the line in front of them who has neglected this "virtue". This odor is but a simple reminder to of us the direction we are all headed too; the grave.
But, as Catholics this can be a great opportunity for meditation…What are we but worms in the eyes of God? And are we not told, we will be devoured by the same in our grave? Are we not in dire need of His Most Precious Blood shed for us which is used to wash us spiritually clean in the confessional? What are we but helpless creatures in the sight of His Majesty and His Greatness when we habitually find ourselves falling into sin.
Are we not TOTALLY dependent on Him to save us from ourselves!! We could not accomplish one thing that we attempt each day, without it being His will! We are told that the stars would fall from the sky and the earth would no longer stay on course if it was not His Will for it to be so. This is why He commands His Angels to each a mission; some to control the earth’s orbit, others to control the stars..When one considers this, is it not so ironic today how everyone is trying to SAVE THE WORLD
…One is reminded in the call of society that we must use, prudence in not having too many children…that has even infected some Catholics today who feel that they must make the *prudent* choice for their families size and restrict their families with NFP. When did God STOP being GOD? Is not HE the author of all life ?
Does He not take care of the birds of the air, and the flowers? If it is not His will do we think we can still attain something, like a baby or saving the world? In a world that has turned it’s back on God is it any wonder the grand schemes of overpopulation and Save the World plans that have been concocted…Just who are we saving the world for? The animals?
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…we are all destined to return to the earth…all the washing we do will never clean the most important part of what we have – our souls. Those of us with children all have a grave responsibility to ensure that our children are trained to shun the world and it’s deceptions and helped to grow in love with God, and to love the Sacrament of Penance. Since what will God be asking to see when we are at the end of our life?
…surely not if our hands are dirty or not…
Give me your thoughts on this below!
Taken from *The Catholic Health Letter
Editorial by Rita Davidson, Editor *The Catholic Health Letter* (available on our website here)
©Copyright 2002-2012 Rita Davidson All Rights Reserved.
Rita is a Catholic wife and mother of seven children. She reverted back to the faith when her oldest was making her First Communion. By then, she had completed degrees in Hairdressing and Make up artistry. She went on to receive a degree in Natural Health and another degree in Art. At age 26, Rita suffered a minor stroke. With no lasting effects, this dramatically changed her outlook on life. In 1996, Rita began ‘Little Flowers Family Apostolates’ to reach out to other families with her new found faith, by creating unique Catholic books and resources.. In 1999, she wrote the bestselling, ‘Immodesty; Satan’s Virtue’. She was editor of ‘The Catholic Health Letter’ for 7 years. She has been a homeschooling mom for 20+ years, and has written for various magazines. She is honored that families have trusted her with their questions, needs and concerns over the years. She continues to write and reach out to Catholic families with her husband, Mark and their 4 boys through http://www.LittleFlowersFamilyPress.com
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