Losing someone at Christmas time is a gut-wrenching experience. Every holiday season going forward will forever be marked with the sadness of that untimely event. Yesterday, I officiated a funeral for a vibrant young woman in our community who brought light and laughter to everyone she met. As I counseled her mother earlier in the week, I kept hearing the phrase “beauty for ashes” in my mind. This young woman was an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Cosmetology at our local college, and everyone talked about her drive and desire to bring beauty into the world with her teaching, her skills, her delightful sense of humor, and her smile.

I opened today’s lectionary passage and there it was, the “beauty for ashes” Scripture. God is amazing that way.

Isaiah 61 (New International Version)

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,

These were the very words that Jesus read from the scroll in the Temple as recorded in Luke 4:16-22. He was announcing himself as the long awaited Messiah. The use of the word “anointed” is key, as the word “Messiah” means “anointed one.” He then goes on to describe the ministry of the Messiah:

² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
³     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

In verse 3 we see that the Messiah comes to bestow a crown of beauty instead of ashes to the people. Ashes were used as a sign of mourning and were spread all over the head and forehead. They represented desolation, ruin, and deep grief. Imagine spreading ashes all over your head … surely grief is messy, no matter how you approach it.

But Jesus came to offer a crown of beauty for your head to replace your ashes. He came to give you the oil of joy to replace your mourning. He game to replace your sackcloth of despair with a garment of praise. It bodes the question, why would we sit in ashes when Christ gave us so much better? Through his life, death, and resurrection, we are never permanently separated from those whom we love. And when overwhelming grief finally releases its grip on our hearts, we can live into that beauty, with God’s help. It will never be the same, but it won’t always feel this bad.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.

God is able to rebuild and restore the devastation of a loss by the renewal of your spirit, when you are ready to let him. In the meantime, for those who mourn, remember that you are never alone. Jesus walks your lonesome valley with you. Thanks be to God.

Lonesome Valley by Becca Ziegler