Ash Wednesday and Lent Joyful226

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar. Occurring 46 days before Easter, it is a movable fast that can fall as early as February 4 and as late as March 10. This year 2014 it is March 5 with Easter being April 20th. According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting or abstinence. Of the 46 days until Easter, six are Sundays. As the Christian sabbath, Sundays are not included in the fasting period and are instead "feast" days during Lent. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a celebration and reminder of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday usually mixed with some olive oil. Ashes were used in ancient times to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing one's penitence is found in Job 42:3–6 Job says to God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. The other eye wandereth of its own accord. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (vv. 5–6, KJV). The prophet Daniel recounted pleading to God this way: "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes" (Daniel 9:3). Other examples are found in several other books of the Bible including, Old Testament Numbers 19:9, 19:17, Jonah 3:6,and in the New Testament Matthew 11:21, Luke 10:13, Hebrews 9:13. Ash Wednesday marks the start of a 46-day period which reminds us of the separation of Jesus in the desert to fast and pray. During this time He was tempted and defeated the Devil and he left Jesus alone, and the angels took care of Jesus: Found in Matthew 4:1–11 , other accounts found in Mark 1:12–13, and Luke 4:1–13. May this time of Lent be a thoughtful and holy time as us as we reflect on what Jesus has suffered and did for us with his undying love. by Connie Hull

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