Today is Ash Wednesday. I know that because it says it on my
calendar. So being a self-proclaimed
anti-traditional, non-conformist, I ask, "What is Ash
Wednesday?" It's the first day of
Lent I read. Boy that helps! What is Lent? (This all sounds like Bill
Cosby talking to God in his humorous monologue on Noah). What is Lent?
Well I learn that the word "lent"
has something to do with 40. OK, so
what's the big deal about 40? Well I learned
that Jesus spent forty days fasting in the desert so now the faithful annual
take 40 days and spend time fasting, prayer and abstaining. Wikipedia informs us that "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." [1]
We also learn that 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. Dr. Michael Horton notes that "when
unburdened by superstitious rites, Lent still holds tremendous promise if we
will recover its evangelical purpose; namely, leading us and our children to
Christ by his Word."
Sounds like every day ought to be a
Lenten-kind-a-day?
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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday
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