Today is the first day of Lent, a season of fasting and remembering. Ash Wednesday is not a feast or celebration but a day when the body of Christ collectively acknowledges our sin and repents. We then begin the 40 day fast until Palm Sunday. Why participate in Lent? One idea is to be unnecessarily devoted. I will suggest 3 more:
- To identify with the 40 day fast of Jesus Christ before His Temptation
- To remind us of our sin, and repent
- To prepare our hearts and minds for Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday (a.k.a. Easter)
Ash Wednesday is named because of the tradition of pouring ash over your head as a sign of grief. This was often accompanied with wearing of sackcloth. You see it over and over again in the Old Testament. Today the it is much more common to have the sign of the cross drawn on your forehead in ash. No matter the particular practice it is an outward sign of a humbled and penitent spirit.
If you haven’t begun to participate in the Lenten fast it is not too late. Choose something to part with for the 40 days. I recommend not choosing something for health reasons or an action that you already know to be wrong, these defeat the purpose. I have chosen to give up candy, not because it is bad for me but because I love it and it will be painful to go without for 40 days.
Just for fun here is a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer for Ash Wednesday:
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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