Ash Wednesday is being recovered in many Protestant churches today. The significance of the ashes and the cross are historical. “In the early days of the church, new Christians were signed with the cross and told that the cross was an invisible tattoo (many people in the Roman era wore tattoos symbolizing their vocation).”[1] Ashes are another powerful biblical symbol that signifies repentance. Both of these symbols mark the beginning of Lent and help us focus on the importance of our own spiritual condition. An Ash Wednesday service focuses our attention on our spiritual condition. There may not be any music. Prayers that are offered lead the worshipper to a place of acknowledging sin and asking for forgiveness. Scripture that is read reflects on our personal need for spiritual renewal. In Matthew 6 Jesus calls us to practice prayer, almsgiving and fasting. This is a season to put into practice the things we believe. These practices are not perfunctory but help us live in relationship with God and in community with each other.[2]
An interesting practice in some churches has been the burning of palm branches from Palm Sunday. The palms would be left to dry and then burned. The ashes that result would be saved and used on the next Ash Wednesday. Doing this connects the two events together and reminds the worshipper that all have sinned, need to repent, and accept forgiveness (Rom 8:28).
Lent
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and is counted for forty days, not counting Sundays, until Easter. Sundays are not included because each Sunday is set aside for corporate worship and praise. The forty days of Lent has early church origins, but it wasn’t until about the fourth century that the practice was solidified into the forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Traditionally, during this period of forty days before Easter, people will decide to do something to help them remember why this season is important. Historically, Lenten practices have been fasting, praying, and almsgiving. Lenten practices might be ‘giving up’ something for Lent, like not eating any candy or sugar. This is only effective if it is done in conjunction with intentional prayer, meditation, and scripture reading. If you truly desire to deepen your relationship with God, then it might be more effective to ‘do’ something. Spiritual disciplines are good and there are so many ways to be creative and build a new discipline that strengthens your relationship with God, blesses others, and benefits you! You may know people who say they are giving up something like coffee or chocolate for Lent. Why do they do that? Have you ever had the nerve to ask? The answer might be that “it’s tradition”. Or they think that it’s a good thing for them to do. But that kind of rationale is not sufficient. Building spiritual discipline is a good reason and should at least be accompanied by prayer, and scripture reading so that one’s relationship with God is growing deeper.
If you have young children perhaps your family could come up with ideas to foster spiritual discipline. Some ideas might be for everyone in the family to memorize a portion of scripture together. At the end of the forty days, how many verses will you have committed to memory? Psalm 119:11, “Deep within me I have hidden Your word so that I will never sin against You.”
Another idea for a family might be to take turns doing something nice for another member of the family, or a friend, in secret. Have a reveal party on Easter! Or don’t reveal, and let the mystery continue!
Words of encouragement be email or text can also be most meaningful to both the receiver and the sender. Something as simple as ‘thinking of you today..’ or ‘the Lord brought you to mind…’
Whatever and however you decide to enter into this season of the church year may be it be a time of wonder, growth, reflection and strength. May you be renewed, find rest and assurance that God is your refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).
If you are keeping up with the news of the day you are aware that the Spirit of God is moving! May the same sweet Spirit blow over us as we seek Him!
Shalom! Shalom!
[1]Robert E. Webber, Rediscovering the Christian Feasts: A Study in the Services of the Christian Year (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998), 42, 43.
[2]Ancient-Future Time: Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year. (Grand Rapids, MI: BakerBooks, 2004) 101, 102.
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