Season of Lent - Ash Wednesday
Using Ash to Reflect Our Repentance
Posted by: CDFWarrington on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 1:20AM
Though the use of ashes is not strictly a Biblical discipline, there are numerous references to dust and ashes being used as a sign of repentance and/or mourning even amongst non-believers (Job 42:6, Esther 4:1-3, Jonah 3:6, amongst many others). It is for this reason that those of our Catholic brother and sisters and some Protestant denominations, begin the Season of Lent by having ashes placed on their forehead.
If you do not observe Ash Wednesday, I recommend that you read about the practice. Not all Christians observe the same holy days nor practice the same disciplines; and, in an effort to help maintain "unity of the Spirit", it is important to know more about what other believers observe for their religious practices. GotQuestions.org has a wonderful article that they wrote about Ash Wednesday. I recommend reading their article for a more detailed background.
Whether you observe Ash Wednesday or not, it is important to remember that God always forgives us, no matter if we observe one practice or not. God always forgives us, no matter how good we are nor how sinful we have been. God's love for us goes beyond what we can do and goes directly to what He has done for us. May this Season of Lent be a time that we reflect on that truth.
