ASH WEDNESDAY

YESTERDAY WAS ASH WEDNESDAY AND MARKED THE START OF THE 40 DAYS OF LENT.

LENT ACTUALLY BEGINS 46 DAYS BEFORE EASTER (THIS YEAR APRIL 12, 2020)  BUT IS ONLY OBSERVED MONDAY TO SATURDAY AS SUNDAY IS VIEWED AS OUR CELEBRATION DAY. THEREFORE, LENT IS OBSERVED FOR 40 DAYS. 

SO WHAT IS LENT ALL ABOUT ? 

WELL THE HISTORICAL RESPONSE  IS THAT FOR ABOUT 12 HUNDRED YEARS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS APPROACHED THEIR ALTARS ON THE ‘ DIES CINERUM ‘ , THE DAY OF ASHES , TO RECEIVE THE ASHES ON THEIR FOREHEADS.  THE ASHES ARE ( STILL !) MADE FROM THE BURNT PALMS THAT WERE BLESSED ON ‘PALM SUNDAY’ OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.   THESE ASHES ARE SPRINKLED WITH HOLY WATER,  AND BLESSED WITH PRAYER AND INCENSE.  

THE BIBLICAL RESPONSE MIGHT BE THAT THERE ARE OVER 40 PLACES IN THE BIBLE THAT MENTION AND ASSOCIATE ASHES WITH MOURNING AND GRIEF.  SOME FOLKS WOULD ROLL AROUND IN THEM , OR PUT THEM ON THEIR HEADS OR EVEN PUT THEM IN THEIR FOOD!   THEY DID THIS AS A SIGN OF THEIR REPENTANCE.   

THE RESPONSE I CAN RELATE TO THE MOST IS THAT I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER.  ASH WEDNESDAY REMINDS ME THAT I AM ‘ ONLY DUST AND TO DUST I WILL RETURN’ . I AM NOTHING WITHOUT MY GOD WHO GAVE ME LIFE. DURING THE SEASON OF LENT I LIKE TO TRY AND GET CLOSER TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER , FASTING , AND ACTS OF KINDNESS.   DURING THIS MONTH WE PREPARE FOR SOMETHING CALLED ‘ HOLY WEEK’ WHICH REMEMBERS THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS. 

GOD IS AMAZING!  HE LOVES US . HE IS THERE FOR US AND HE FORGIVES US TOO. 

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EXPRESSIONS I RECENTLY HEARD IS :  ” GOD KICKS ASH ! ”  HA HA.