Understanding the Ashes and Beginning a Journey of Prayer, Repentance and Renewal
Understanding the Meaning of the Ashes and the Call to Prayer, Fasting and Renewal
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a sacred season in which Christians prepare their hearts for the celebration of the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.
For many Christians, the day begins with a simple but powerful sign - a cross of ashes placed upon the forehead.
It is an outward symbol carrying a deeply personal message.
Ash Wednesday invites us to remember our dependence upon God, reflect honestly upon our lives, turn away from sin and begin again with Christ.
It marks the beginning of approximately 40 days of prayer, fasting, repentance and generosity, leading us towards the great joy of Easter.
Why Do We Receive Ashes?
The use of ashes as a sign of repentance has ancient biblical roots.
Throughout Scripture, ashes are associated with humility, mourning and repentance. They remind us of our human frailty and of our need for God's mercy.
During an Ash Wednesday service, ashes are traditionally placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross.
As the ashes are imposed, we may hear words such as:
“Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Alternatively, we may hear the ancient reminder:
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
These words may sound confronting, but their purpose is not to leave us without hope.
Quite the opposite.
They remind us that our earthly lives are temporary and encourage us to consider what is truly important. The cross upon our forehead points us towards the One in whom our ultimate hope is found - Jesus Christ.
Why Are Last Year's Palm Branches Used?
There is a beautiful connection between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday.
Traditionally, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning blessed palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations.
On Palm Sunday, palms commemorate Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, when crowds welcomed Him with joy.
Those palms later becoming ashes provides a powerful reminder of how quickly earthly things can pass away.
It also connects the beginning of Lent with the events towards which Lent is leading us - Christ's Passion, death and Resurrection.
The journey has come full circle, and a new Lenten journey begins.
Why Is Lent 40 Days?
The number 40 appears repeatedly throughout Scripture as a period of preparation, testing and transformation.
Most importantly for Lent, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, fasting and facing temptation before beginning His public ministry.
The Gospel tells us:
“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)
Lent invites us, in our own way, to enter a spiritual wilderness.
We intentionally simplify parts of our lives so we can pay greater attention to God.
The purpose isn't hardship for hardship's sake.
It is transformation.
Prayer, Fasting and Giving
The traditional practices of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Together, they encourage us to look in three directions.
Prayer turns our hearts towards God.
We might spend more time reading Scripture, attending church, praying quietly, following a Lenten devotional or simply creating periods of silence in our day.
Fasting helps us examine ourselves.
By voluntarily giving something up, we become more aware of our desires and habits. Fasting can teach us that not every desire needs to be immediately satisfied and remind us that our deepest fulfilment is found in God.
Giving turns our attention towards others.
The money, time or resources we save through our Lenten sacrifices can be shared with people in need. We can also become more generous with something everyone possesses - the ability to offer kindness, encouragement, forgiveness and compassion.
These three practices help Lent become more than simply “giving something up”.
They help us make room for God and for others.
What Should I Give Up for Lent?
Chocolate might immediately come to mind!
There is certainly nothing wrong with giving up a favourite food or treat. A genuine sacrifice can be a valuable spiritual discipline.
But Lent also gives us an opportunity to look a little deeper.
Perhaps we could spend less time on social media and use those minutes to read the Bible.
Perhaps we could give up unnecessary shopping and donate some of the money we save.
We might decide to stop complaining, gossiping or speaking negatively about others.
Or perhaps what we need most isn't to give something up, but to take something up.
Daily prayer.
Bible reading.
A Lenten devotional.
Attending an additional church service.
Helping someone who is lonely.
Practising gratitude.
Forgiving someone.
Calling someone we have neglected.
The most meaningful Lenten practice is one that helps us become more attentive to God and the way He is calling us to live.
Ash Wednesday Is an Invitation to Begin Again
One of the most beautiful messages of Ash Wednesday is that our Christian faith always leaves room for renewal.
None of us enters Lent as a finished product.
We all have areas of our lives that could be brought more closely into alignment with Christ.
Ash Wednesday asks us to recognise them honestly - but then to do something about them.
The prophet Joel beautifully expresses God's invitation:
“Return to me with all your heart.” (Joel 2:12)
That may be one of the simplest ways to understand Lent.
Return to Me.
Wherever we have been, however distracted we have become and whatever has occupied our attention, God invites us to turn our hearts towards Him again.
From Ashes to Easter
Ash Wednesday is only the beginning.
Ahead lies a journey through Lent towards Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and ultimately Easter Sunday.
The ashes we receive remind us of mortality.
The cross reminds us of sacrifice.
But Easter reminds us that neither death nor the grave has the final word.
Christ is risen.
That is where our Lenten journey is ultimately leading.
At Christian Supplies, we have a range of Lenten resources, Bibles, prayer books, devotionals, crosses and other Christian resources to help individuals, families, schools and parishes prepare prayerfully for Easter.
As we begin another Lenten season, perhaps our prayer can be very simple:
Lord, help me to make more room for You.
May the ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday be more than an outward sign. May they mark the beginning of an inward journey - a season of prayer, repentance, generosity and renewal that draws us ever closer to Jesus.
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