I am going to put my series of Special People on hold until May. Because we celebrate Easter this month, I feel there is a greater need this month to go into 'What Is Easter All About.' Is it about buying new clothes, and going to church? Is it about coloring eggs and hiding Easter baskets? Is it about having a huge meal that day with family and friends? Or does it have a more significant meaning that we need to get before we pass from this life? And finally, can any of those different traditions be mixed and used in our celebration during this season? As this month progresses, perhaps we can all learn something from those questions and more. Please stay tuned.
I am going to start out today with Ash Wednesday. Oh, I know, some of you know that Ash Wednesday of this year fell on March 6th. Actually, until I looked it up, I didn't know this. If your/your church has never participated in it, let me catch you up to speed. However first let me tell you that as coming from a born again Christian background and being one myself, our family has ourselves never participated in Ash Wednesday although do not disagree with why people do. I know a bit about it, but upon giving you this information....I will be learning more about it, as well. So, let's begin.And so what is Ash Wednesday? According to Wikipedia, it is "the first day of lent in the Western Christian Calendar. It occurs 46 days before Easter...."
It goes on to say, that "those that are able to, should fast voluntarily between Ash Wednesday and Easter. There are exceptions though. Pregnant women, sick people, children and the very old don't usually have to."
Well, that much I did pretty much know. But what is it exactly?
Actually, I found that it seems to have it roots in the Old Testament. I say that it seems to because I have not studied it enough, or even yet to know for myself that it is true. However, that is one reason for this study. To find out for myself and pass what I learn on to you so that you can decide or even check out these things to see for yourself. And maybe learn things along the way
Simply put, the origin of 'The Day of Ashes' the name for the day, always on Wednesday, 40 days before Easter but not including Sundays, when it is the practice of putting ashes on one's head. This practice is not mentioned in the Bible and neither is Lent. It is time for self-denial in selfish ways. For denying sinful things, and for fasting. It is observed by mostly Catholics but also by some protestant churches as well. I do know someone that practices this that was in the Catholic church for some of her childhood and was taught about much of it through her grandmother. She no longer is in that denomination but had kept her own practice of Ash Wednesday throughout most of her life. In recent years, it has become mostly giving up a particular item that she really loves, for that time. Be it a particular food or something like not getting on the internet. It may vary from year to year. I do not know if it means anything more spiritually significate to her anymore, as in fasting, etc, however. She now lives in another state and so this subject has not come up in a very long time between us.
Anyway, the first scripture I have come across in dealing with this subject is Genesis 3:19. By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food until you return to the ground. since from you were taken, dust you are and to dust, you will return.
And there are others as scriptures as well about people that records people using the symbols of dust and ashes in their mourning and repentance. They can be found in Daniel 9:3, Esther 4:1, and Job 2:8 for example.
But since there is nowhere in the Bible that actually speaks of this practice in the way they were used in biblical times,, should we practice it ourselves those of us that know Christ as our personal Savior?
Or is it sinful?
My own feeling seems to go along with most main stream denominations and that is that, for me it is not nesecarry to be a part of actually having a cross of ashes put on my forehead to remind me once a year that I need to obstain from sinful things or not indulge in too much of even good things. I should be doing that everyday of my life The Bible says we are sinful people, but when we are saved through Jesus' blood, we become new creations. That does not mean that we are now without sin, but that we have the forgiveness of sin. We are to turn away from it but when we do, God forgives us when we ask Him.
Though, it is not really a bad thing either and it is one of those things that as a Christian, we can choose to do it or not.
In so doing though, it is best to have a biblical perspective about only letting God know the things we do for him because it is hypocrites that want to brag about what they are doing to others and so will tell anyone that will listen. (Mathew 6:16-18. My own translation of that scripture.)
For more on this topic please follow the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Ash-Wednesday.html
I hope this gives you some (or a little more) understanding about Ash Wednesday. It does for me and I hope you found it helpful. In the mean time, please come back tomorrow when we will again explore 'What Is Easter All About?' And also, Happy to all April Birthdays! May yours be blessed! Bye bye and God Bless you!
One more thing. I know this post today is going to be late. Please forgive me as I have had a lot of technical problems. I would appreciate any of your prayers especially for this month in our findings about Easter. Thank you.
April 1, 2019 Easter Scripture Reading for today: He then began to teach them that the Son of Man, must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priest and the teachers of the law. And that he would be killed and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31
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