About the Lenten Season…
Lent is the forty-day season of reflection and preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a time of repentance, of considering Christ’s sufferings and rethinking how we are called to take up our own crosses. Some of us give up things like chocolate, Facebook, or television during this season as a sort of fasting, and others try to integrate something new into their lives, like visiting folks in prison, sewing clothes, exercising, or praying.
Why call it Lent? Originally, when sermons were given in Latin, the term Quadragesima (derived from the Latin for forty) was used to describe this forty day season. In the Middle Ages, as sermons began to be given in the everyday language of the people, the English word “Lent” was adopted which simply means “spring”.
When you think about it, spring is a good season to rethink how we live and to let some things go, or maybe even to develop some new holy habits. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and it ends on the Saturday before Easter Sunday.
About Ash Wednesday…
Where is Ash Wednesday in the Bible? It isn’t. But there are plenty of precedents for calling God’s people together for repentance and for renewal. The trumpet sound of the prophet Joel, calling for God’s people to tremble at the approaching judgments of God (Joel 2:1-2,12-17) resonates with the call of Jesus to times of mourning and calling on God with self-denial and even fasting. Notice Jesus does not say “If you fast” but “Whenever you fast . . .” as if he expects us to keep in step with his own example (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21).
Why Ashes? Ashes in the Bible are a sign of mourning or humility before a Holy God. (Daniel 9:3; Job 42:1-6; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21) Ultimately, through Ash Wednesday, we can realize an opportunity to deepen our awareness of God’s forgiveness and purifying presence. This service invites us to humble ourselves before God as we prepare to follow in the steps of Jesus all the way to Calvary.