Mickey Starling
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Today, March 2, is Ash Wednesday, which marks the first day of Lent, a 46-day season of repentance and renewal in preparation for Easter. Typically, Christians who observe this holiday will fast in some manner, abstaining from eating favorite foods, doing without daily conveniences, like social media or watching TV, or by spending extra time praying or serving others.
Ash Wednesday services involve a time of prayer and repentance, as Christians recall their sinfulness and mortality, while also remembering the victory Christ provides over both through His death on the Cross.
This day is marked by the application of ashes to the forehead, usually in the shape of a cross.
Ashes are an ancient biblical symbol. In Genesis, we read that God formed human beings out of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). After being expelled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve are told by God, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). The Hebrew word translated “dust” is occasionally translated as “ashes” elsewhere. Throughout scripture, ashes are part of rituals when people seek forgiveness and mourn their sin (see Numbers 19:9, 17; Hebrews 9:13; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13, among others).
Ash Wednesday is predominantly celebrated by Catholics and Methodists, but Christians of many denominations participate in this special season each year. The importance of the message of Ash Wednesday is not just about recognizing past failures or human mortality, but remembering who we can be in Christ, who stands ready to renew and restore us daily.
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