From Dust to Dust

The following biblical adequately captures the essence of why we need to focus on repentance and forgiveness which signify the inner meaning Ash Wednesday that was observed this week, marketing the beginning of the period of Lent: “Remember, O man, you are dust and unto dust you shall return” (Genesis 3.19). Ash Wednesday falls on the first day of Lent, on a Wednesday, after Quinquagesima Sunday or Hall Sunday followed by Blues Monday and Shrove Tuesday. The Lenten season is a 40 day period of abstinence and fasting which culminates in the feast of Easter on April 23.

Masses or services of worship are held for Christians in churches. During this prayerful service the faithful approach the altar to receive the application of ashes. The officiating priest applies the ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead or on the tonsured head of the clergy, while reciting the litany “for dust you are and to dust you shall return”. The applying of the ashes reminds the believers of their inherent mortality and transgressions and that repentance is essential to become one with God.

The cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is through Him salvation is possible for faithful. The ashes are obtained Sunday of the preceding year. This is so because Palm Sunday is celebrated to rejoice Jesus’s arrival into Jerusalem, and later on realizing that he came only to die for our sins. In the blessing of the ashes, four ancient prayers are invoked. The penitents allow the ashes to remain till evening before washing it off. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of repentance, penance and a spiritual flowering of the spirit with the aid of absolution and confession.

The earliest mention of Ash Wednesday can be traced to the Gregorian Sacramentary. On this day, Christian believers repent for their sins b fasting, praying and asking for God’s forgiveness. The purpose of observing Ash Wednesday is to remember Jesus Christ, who died for the dins of the whole world and was crucified on the cross and repent for all the sins that they have committed. The believers also confess their sins this day to priest. The whole rationale is to mourn, repent, fast and pray, and find one’s way to the Lord to attain forgiveness through which one gets eternal life.

Today, the practice of wearing sackcloth and applying ashes on the whole body as a sign of repentance is disappearing from the Christian customs. For Jesus himself cautioned people saying, “Moreover, hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to people to be fasting…. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to people to be fasting, but to your heavenly Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Mathew 6:16-18)

Jesus was telling people to be more bona fide in their deeds. Thus, the essential constituent of Lent is true repentance with genuine prayerfulness.