In a world in which political leaders are prone to exalt themselves and cling on to power as if they were indispensable, we might be wise to take a lesson from the Romans. A victorious general returning from war would be given quite the homecoming. Their triumphal procession through the city would last all day or sometimes even two. Carried in a horse-drawn chariot the general would be preceded by prisoners and other spoils of war and followed by his troops. Dressed in a red toga to imitate Mars the god of war, he would make his way to the temple of Jupiter. For the adoring crowds the general would take on a god-like status.

Such adulation might easily go to his head. He might begin to think more of himself than he ought. For that reason, he had company in the chariot as he rode around the city. A slave stood behind him the whole way whispering in his ear ‘Remember you are mortal’. These are wise words to bear in mind when any of us are tempted to assume an importance that we do not merit. 

Not for nothing does the season of Lent begin with these words from Genesis, ‘Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return’.

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