Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Tomorrow Christians all around the world will walk into churches and leave with a symbol on their forehead – black ashes in the shape of a cross. Most people who see this will wonder what it’s all about. You might wonder what it’s all about. Let me explain it a little for you.
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent – a six-week period of preparation for Easter. The Bible does not require the observance of Ash Wednesday, in fact it was not instituted until around 1000 A.D., but it has deeply biblical overtones. The practice stems from the Old Testament ritual of putting ashes on your head as a symbol of repentance – e.g., Job “repented in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:6). The church adopted and adapted this symbol by putting ashes on one’s forehead in the shape of a cross, signifying both sin and the redemption that Christ secured with his blood.
The ashes also remind us of our mortality. As much as we may try to ignore it or postpone it, none of us can escape death. That day might come fifty years from now, or it might be today – we don’t know. What we do know is that death is a reality that we all must face. When I – and most other pastors who lead Ash Wednesday service – put ashes on someone’s forehead, I remind them, “From ashes you have come, and to ashes you will return.” This is a solemn reminder, but one that is much needed.
There is great value to attending an Ash Wednesday service. It reminds us that we will not live forever. It encourages us to recognize our sins and repent. It directs our hearts towards God at the beginning of Lent. And it allows us to pause and begin preparing for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, when he defeated sin and death and opened the way for reconciliation and eternal life.
If you are able to attend an Ash Wednesday service tomorrow, I would encourage you to do so. If not, I would encourage you to reflect on the truths that the ashes represent.