Ash Wednesday

This coming Wednesday, believe it or not, is Ash Wednesday! Every year, we commemorate this occasion by prayer, fasting and (most notably) by putting ashes on our heads. But have you ever wondered why we do this? Why do we start Lent by rubbing (or sometimes sprinkling) ashes on our heads?

The practice originates in the Old Testament. Throughout Old Testament history, we see numerous figures covering themselves in ashes or dust, as well as clothing themselves in sackcloth, as a sign of remorse and/or repentance. We see this with David as he repents of his sin with Bathsheba and intercedes for his son; we see it with the people of Nineveh in the book of Jonah; we even see it as a way of enhancing prayer in Daniel as he prays and fasts for the people. We may no longer dress ourselves in sackcloth, but we have continued the practice of putting ashes on ourselves as an outward sign of repentance. 

The ashes are meant to remind us of our mortality. One of the lines the priest can say while giving the ashes is: “Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” This is to remind us that we all will die someday, and by extension, we will all receive God’s judgment. Are any of us truly ready for that? The ashes are an invitation to repentance, deeper conversion, turning more fully towards God. It happens more often than people think, but a lot of people today seek out the ashes as a mark of pride. “Look, I got my ashes. I’m a good Christian.” But if that is all I am getting the ashes for, to put my faith on display for others, then the ashes ultimately mean nothing. As we enter into this Lenten season, may we heed that invitation given through the ashes, and turn back to God with sincere repentance, faith and conversion of heart!