Ash Wednesday

I've worked at a Catholic school for over 17 years now and have learned a lot about a lot of things formerly foreign to this Baptist.  Lots of traditions and rituals, most I like.  Most everyone knows about Ash Wednesday, but I don't think I did before I came to this job.  So for everyone else who was like me - here's a little education about Ash Wednesday. 

Ash Wednesday (today) begins the 40 day period of Lent - a reminder of the 40 day period that Jesus spent fasting and praying before the start of His ministry - a season of penance, relfection and fasting to prepare for Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday.  (Some Protestant churches, BTW, do observe Lent - many more than used to.)


The name comes from the practice of placing ashes on the forehead in the sign of the cross - a sign of repentance.  This comes from the Biblical practice of repentance using dust and ashes (Job 42) and sackcloth and ashes (Jer 6, Daniel 9).  It's a very tactile reminder of "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" referring to what we came from and what we will one day return to, and  that life passes away.  Lent is a season of grief ending with the celebration of Easter.  Sorta like the light at the end of the tunnel.  Lent is also known as a time of sacrifice; giving up something for Jesus.  The custom used to be, and for some still is, to give up something you love for the 40 days of Lent.  But more recently as I've heard the Priests explain, it has come to mean giving up something in order to add something in your life to bring you closer to God - instead of giving up something just for the sake of giving up something.  Prayer, fasting and giving are encouraged.  So...giving up something and replacing it with something that puts the focus on God: I commit to that during Lent.  In fact, I commit to doing that from now on.  Hold me accountable, friends!

Where do the ashes come from?  Glad you asked!  They are made from the palms used in last year's Palm Sunday celebration.  Receiving ashes today in the service reminded me that this life is so temporary and that only what's done for Christ and His kingdom are lasting.  The Priest's homily included Jesus telling His followers about how they were to do their "good deeds" and that was in secret and not out in the open.  He said, "so don't show off!"  Great advice! 

In today's service one of the prayers was, "Let the signing with ashes today remind us of the passing nature of material things and help us give more attention to the things of the spirit, we pray."  Another: "At the beginning of this holy season, let us pray for the renewal of our hearts and the needs of all those around us."  Ok, Linda - stop looking at yourself and look within, then around.  Look within to remind yourself of The One who gave Himself for your selfish self!  Look around to see where you can do some good for someone else, but try to do it in secret!!