March 9, 2011, Ash Wednesday, will be a day to weep, mourn, and wail over our sins. It's no longer chic to talk about repentance, even in many churches, but there was a time when some in the Christian community felt that if you never had a really good cry over your sinful condition, you needed to question whether you had repented enough to be saved.
   We know that God saves people by graciously giving them faith in Christ Jesus through Word and Sacraments, not because of emotionalism or  one's ability to produce tears. On the other hand, as one who is but dust and ash, rescued from the ash heap of history by a Savior who loved me enough to die my death and suffer my hell, I am deeply moved (sometimes even to tears). Come to church at 7:15 PM and have two good cries: first, tears of repentance over sin; second, tears of joy for so great and costly a salvation so generously offered!