Lenten Season FAST - Ash Wednesday
0 Comments
Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the first day of Lent. This is traditionally commemorated by a service where the attendees are marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes. Per custom, the ashes used are from the burning of the palm leaves from the previous year's palms from Palm Sunday. On this day, fasting, abstaining from meat and repentance are all deeply respected.
Ashes are an ancient symbol of repentance. All over the Old Testament, you will find reference to 'sackcloth and ashes.' People would dust themselves in ashes in anguish over sin. Another common reference to ashes can be found in Genesis 3:19. It says, "since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return," which reminds us of our mortality and even further represented in our need to die to self so that we may live with Christ.
Let us honor Ash Wednesday and this Lenten Season together by asking Jesus to bring self-awareness of how we can repent and die to the things keeping us from Him.
0 Comments | Login to Post Comments