Former Recent York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani posted a message on social media referencing Genesis 3:19, stating, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The post, appearing on his account Wednesday, coincided with Ash Wednesday observances for many Christians.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of reflection and penitence leading up to Easter. The verse from Genesis, as recounted in the Book of Genesis, was delivered by God to Adam after the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, signifying mortality and a return to the earth from which humanity was formed. According to a reflection published by Theology of Work, the verse serves as a reminder of human mortality and origins.
The practice of using ashes on Ash Wednesday is a symbolic act, representing repentance and acknowledging human frailty. The ashes are traditionally applied to the forehead in the shape of a cross, accompanied by the phrase, “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” A sermon delivered at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in 2021, and focusing on the same Genesis passage, highlighted the verse as a foundational acknowledgement of the human condition.
Giuliani’s post garnered over 900 likes and 40 replies as of Thursday morning. The context of the post, and any specific intent behind its timing, remains unclear. No further statement has been issued by Giuliani regarding the message. Trinity Lutheran Church in State Center, Iowa, held services on Ash Wednesday, as noted in promotional material for the event.
