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February 25, 2009 >> 03:01:41 PM

Ash Wednesday

You may have noticed many people on Wednesday with a smudge of dirt on their forehead.  If you look closely you may recognize it as a cross.   Wednesday marks the start of the 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.  Ash Wednesday is a time to remember and lament the effects of sin in our life, to remember the frailty of human life.  As the ashes are applied one of two phrases are generally spoken, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or "Repent, and believe the Gospel"

Wearing ashes is a vivid reminder that we are made from the dust of the earth and that we will return to it.  They are widely used in the Bible as symbol for repentance, "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3 - 19)". The prophets often called for the people to repent in "sackcloth and ashes".  Sackcloth is not a very comfortable material to wear and ashes aren't very fashionable either, together they depict outwardly the humility of a heart moved to confession before the Holy Lord.

The liturgical name for an Ash Wednesday service is 'The Imposition of Ashes'.  It is common for prayers of confession to be recited corporately.  The Psalms of Lament (i.e. 51) are also often read during a service.  Traditionally the ashes used come from burning the Palm Branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday.  The ashes are mixed with oil or holy water to help them remain on the forehead.  The officiant will dip their finger (often the thumb or index finger) into the bowl of ashes and then draw the sign of the cross upon each participant's forehead (some apply the sign of the cross to a person's hand instead).

While Ash Wednesday is a somber and reflective day it should not end with a despairing over the falleness of humanity.  The emphasis should always be directed back to our God who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 86). We can confess our sins in full confidence that because of Jesus' atoning death on the cross we will be forgiven. 

wikipedia
United Methodist BOW
New Advent (Catholic)
Ash-Wednesday.org

(image taken from Worshiphelps) 

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