by Michael Fisher
You’ve probably seen it before on your calendar — along with Ramadan, Cinco de Mayo, Flag Day, and a host of other holidays where you don’t actually know what’s being celebrated.
Or maybe you haven’t seen it, but you’ve heard about it from a friend or a nearby conversation and probably wondered, “What’s all that about?”
For many Christians, Ash Wednesday comes and goes year after year, unnoticed and unmissed. But for Catholics, Lutherans, Anglican Churches, Presbyterians, and a number of others, Ash Wednesday is a powerful experience that brings them closer to God.
While not all Christians celebrate Ash Wednesday, learning about it is a great opportunity to observe how some Christians show love for God and take insight from their example
What is Ash Wednesday? What is Lent?
Lent is the season before Easter during which Catholics prepare for Easter week. It is considered to last 40 days and is meant to mirror Jesus’s fast of 40 days in the Wilderness (Matt. 4). Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday.
During Lent, Catholics focus on penitence and solemn observance. Important practices can include daily devotionals, increased prayer, confession, repentance, and many other things to increase devotion to God. The Lent season ends with the celebration of Easter and the Joy of Jesus’s resurrection.
During Lent, Catholics typically fast from meat each Friday. They also fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (two days before Easter) by eating only one regular meal and two small meals, rather than three regular meals.
Ash Wednesday is a day of special focus in kicking off the Lent season. In the Bible, ashes and fasting were often a symbol of sorrow and repentance. For instance, when Jonah preaches to Ninevah, the king of Ninevah “covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes” to show his repentant heart (Jonah 3:6). , light, medium and dark brown colors. The picture shows Jesus moving the rock away from His tombstone and light behind the opening.
For a similar reason, Catholics gather on Ash Wednesday for mass to symbolically show their willingness to repent of their sins and follow God. One Catholic writer put it this way: “The ashes are an outward sign of our interior repentance before the Lord.”
What Happens on Ash Wednesday at Mass?
Similar to other days of worship, Mass on Ash Wednesday includes hymns, prayers, sermons, and parking of Communion/the Eucharist.
Unlike Mass on other days, however, there will be a period of time where ashes can be administered to the congregation. The ashes typically come from the palm branches of last year’s Palm Sunday celebrations and are mixed with water to form a paste.
The Priest will use the ashes to paint a cross on the forehead of each person who would like it. While he does this, he will typically say either “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or he will say “Repent, and believe the Gospel.”
Unlike the Eucharist (which only baptized Catholics should take at mass), anyone can receive the ashes on their forehead. Catholic Father Mike Schmitz puts it beautifully, “The ashes mean that I’m a sinner, but the cross means that I have a savior.” Anyone who wants to receive the symbol of the ash cross is welcome, because each one of us is a sinner that has a Savior.
Many Catholics continue to wear the cross on their forehead throughout the rest of the day. However, it is a personal decision that is left up to the individual.
What Can Non-Catholic Christians Learn From Ash Wednesday?
Christians and Catholic Christians alike would agree that no one is saved simply because ashes were placed on their forehead. Rather, the ashes are a symbol of an inward change that is already made possible because of Jesus Christ.
No one should think that they have to wait for a special occasion or “that time of year” to repent. As Christians, we are blessed with renewal through Jesus whenever we pray or reach out to Him. Ash Wednesday certainly isn’t the only time of year that a Christian can repent.
However, it’s definitely true that special festivals, holidays, or celebrations can help us remember to look to God. The Bible is full of religious festivals that reminded God’s people of the things He’s done for them and helped them turn their hearts towards Him. All Christians can view Ash Wednesday (if they choose to participate) through the same lens — a reminder that we are all sinners who need repentance and God’s mercy.
On the other hand, any rituals or traditions can also slow us down spiritually if we start simply “going through the motions.” Even something as simple as attending church or reading our scriptures can quickly turn from acts of devotion into “check boxes” and meaningless lists.
In any tradition or action that has the potential to increase our commitment and love for God, we must be careful to make sure we align our hearts with our actions so that both are pointed towards God. When this happens, tradition and devotion beautifully combine and unify us with God.
Ash Wednesday might not be for everybody — but repentance and redemption most certainly are! Whether you choose to observe Ash Wednesday this year or not, consider how you can prepare yourself to more fully appreciate God’s love towards you this Easter season.
Perhaps you could make a devotional list to read each Sunday leading up to Easter. Or when Palm Sunday comes around, you could read about the last week of the Savior’s life in the Gospels. Whatever you choose to do, your efforts will help you find deeper meaning in God’s sacrifice for you and a better understanding of God’s love for you.
May you be blessed this Easter season with all the peace God has in store for you!
Author:
Michael Fisher
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