Lent: Ash Wednesday
“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit” – Psalm 51: 10-12 ESV
My Thoughts:
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent for Western Christians. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing blessed ashes on the foreheads of believers (usually in the shape of a cross) with the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Ashes were used in the Bible and ancient times to express grief over loss and sorrow for sins. Many Bible stories speak of those who mourn and repent in ashes. Tamar expresses grief this way after being raped, as it says “Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornate robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went” (2 Sam 13:19 NIV). The Jews of Esther’s day also expressed their grief using ashes. “In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes” (Esther 4:3 NIV). The prophet Daniel expresses repentance by using ashes, as it says “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes” (Dan 9:3 NIV). And Jesus will reference ashes when He says, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matt 11:21 NIV).
So in putting on ashes we are also expressing our repentance for our sins. And the ashes are placed in the shape of a cross to signify that this expression of sinfulness points to good news to come. Through the imposition of ashes we are called to reflect on our life and to remember that while the ashes symbolize our contrite yet sinful hearts, God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him. And lastly, let us be grateful that we don’t also have to wear sackcloth!
Ash Wednesday is also a day for fasting—besides the placing of ashes—to express repentance. Most Catholics who practice this fast will eat one full meal and two smaller meals, which together will not equal the one full meal. This Lenten fast is seen as a form of penitence or expression of regret and sorrow for sins, much like the placing of ashes. Neither the placing of ashes nor fasting is required or necessary to repent of your evil deeds to God. But from personal experience I can say that both have helped me grow closer to God.
Fun Fact:
In Ireland Ash Wednesday is also known as National No Smoking Day, because it is a good day to give up a luxury like cigarettes.
Action:
Consider attending an Ash Wednesday service near you today.
