Today is Ash Wednesday, a day of repentance and reflection. Typically, liturgical churches “celebrate” the day by having ash put on their forward in the sign of the cross. What a strong marker of identification!
This can serve as an awesome reminder that we are but dust and that is what we will return to. In this ceremony the ashes used are typically made from the burning remains of the previous years palms from Palm Sunday. The following is a decent website, in a question and answer format, for more info: http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/ash_wed.htm
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, the season before Easter. Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. In counting the days of Lent, Sunday’s are skipped. Accordingly, Lent begins today and ends on the Saturday before Easter, March 26.
Traditionally, Lent started as a time of dedication for those wishing to get baptized on Easter. These new disciples would focus on Christ’s teachings and doctrines of the church. Because these disciples would become members of the church, at baptism, the whole congregation took the season of Lent to affirm their beliefs and actions.
1 comment:
The gospel reading for Western Catholics is from the 6th chapter of Matthew. I've generally seen Jesus' words, "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them..." (v.1) AND the imposition of ashes as standing in tension, if not in outright contradiction. Yet our pastor had a good "gloss" on Jesus' words. Jesus isn't forbidding all outward signs, but he is insisting that our conduct match our signs.
Lent came early but right on time for me this year. Eleven hours into Lent and I think I'm doing pretty good. I usually hate Lent but this year I'm looking forward to "letting go" of certain destructive habits and tendencies. As "Tyler Durden" says in FIGHT CLUB, "The things you own, end up owning you."
I suppose if we were angels, seasons like Lent, Easter, and Christmas would be unnecessary. Given the human nature I have (with a cumbersome body), I look forward to reminding myself of the essentials of Christianity.
As Dustin noted, Lent has traditionally been a time that those seeking baptism prepare themselves for transformation. I too wish to begin anew.
Congrats on the new one Dustin!
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