ASH WEDNESDAY

Concerning Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent: a time of penitence, fasting, and prayer, in preparation for the great feast of the resurrection.

The season of Lent began in the early days of the Church as a time of preparation for those seeking to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. The forty days refer to our Lord’s time of fasting in the wilderness; and since Sundays are never fast days, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten Fast. Throughout the Old Testament, ashes are used as a sign of sorrow and repentance, and Christians have traditionally used ashes to indicate sorrow for our own sin, and as a reminder that the wages of sin is death (romans 6:23). Like Adam and Eve, we have disobeyed and rebelled against God, and are under the same judgment, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).

But as we are marked with ashes in the same manner that we were signed with the Cross in Baptism, we are also reminded of the life we share in Jesus Christ, the second Adam (Romans 5:17, 6:4). It is in this sure hope that we begin the journey of these forty days, that by hearing and answering our Savior’s call to repent, we may enter fully into the joyful celebration of his resurrection.

(2019 Book of Common Prayer, P. 542)

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Psalm 51:1-17

Have mercy upon me, O God, in your great goodness; according to the multitude of your mercies wipe away my offences.

Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you only have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence, and blameless in your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in wickedness, and in sin my mother conceived me.

But behold, you desire truth in the inward parts and shall make me understand wisdom secretly.

You shall purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; you shall wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

You shall make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

Turn your face from my sins, and blot out all my misdeeds.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of your help again, and sustain me with your willing Spirit.

Then shall I teach your ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall return unto you.

Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise.

For you desire no sacrifice, or else I would give it to you; but you delight not in burnt offerings.

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; * a broken and contrite heart, O God, you shall not despise.