Repentance & Renewal
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.
- Genesis 3:19
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.- Job 42:5-6
No, the commemoration of Ash Wednesday is not in the Bible, and no, Jesus does not intend for us to wallow in the ashes, lamenting our own depravity as we pull others into the mire alongside us. Ash Wednesday practices were first recorded in the writings of the 10th century monk Aelfric, and they were widespread throughout the church by the 11th century -- commonly including the reminder of Genesis 3:19 and the imposition of ashes on the forehead in the shape of a cross.
As Martin Luther led a successful reformation of the established church in the 16th century, he argued against Ash Wednesday practices since they do not emerge directly from Scripture. But Catholics and Protestants alike continue the tradition today, donning ashes at the beginning of the Lenten season as a reminder of Job's repentance "in dust and ashes" as well as Jesus' time in the wilderness.
Not intended as a downer, the ashes are actually a tangible reminder that time is fleeting and our life here on earth is short, which means we should repent of our sin and choose to follow Him: the way, the truth, and the life that offers us grace and promises us hope, joy, peace, and love.
As we move into this Lenten season, let us be mindful of the 40 days and nights Jesus spent alone in the wilderness, wrestling with Satan and fasting as he prepared for his years of ministry (Matthew 4). What will your reminders be this month as you seek to choose hope rather than despair, peace rather than anxiety, joy rather than anger? Be ready to meet the Holy Spirit in unexpected ways as we anticipate Easter Sunday in the weeks ahead, longing for His presence and responding prayerfully to the challenges of the world around us.
"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved," Peter preached in Acts 2. Call on Him today, seeking His presence as you acknowledge your own limitations. And be ready to receive His answer.
God Bless,
Jennie