Today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. The word itself, Lent, was chosen for convenience. It traces to an old English word for “springtime,” lencten. More literally, it means “lengthen,” which is a reference to the lengthening of days after a long, dark winter. … Continue reading Lent and the significance of “forty days”
ash wednesday
Ashes, mortality and the beginning of Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent—a forty day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to the ground zero of the Christian faith: the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Some churches and traditions have a custom of putting ashes on people’s foreheads on this day. Why? One of the reasons is that ashes are … Continue reading Ashes, mortality and the beginning of Lent
Prepare to meet thy God
Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s the official start of Lent, the forty day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to Good Friday and Easter. [It’s also Valentine’s Day. If you’re curious about who Valentine was, see the link at the bottom of this devotional for a short explanation.] Back to Ash Wednesday. Some Christians put ashes … Continue reading Prepare to meet thy God
Ash Wednesday and holiness
Today is Ash Wednesday. Some Christians are in the habit of putting ashes on their foreheads because they symbolize our mourning and regret for sin. In fact, we’ll do that tonight at a youth-led service at the church I pastor. [This one is in-person only and at 7pm.] Ashes also symbolize our mortality. This recalls … Continue reading Ash Wednesday and holiness
The skull of motivation (Ash Wednesday)
Today is Ash Wednesday. Some Christians are in the habit of putting ashes on their foreheads because they symbolize our mourning and regret for sin. But ashes also symbolize our mortality. This recalls Genesis 3:19 where Adam was punished for his disobedience to God and made to work the soil from which he came: “for … Continue reading The skull of motivation (Ash Wednesday)
Labourers or loiterers?
Today is Ash Wednesday, the official start of Lent—the 40-day period of preparation (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. Some Christians attend services where ashes are put on their foreheads. In a pandemic, these services will either be skipped or modified. Ashes symbolize our mourning and regret for sin. They also symbolize our mortality. Recall … Continue reading Labourers or loiterers?
What is Ash Wednesday all about?
Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s the official start of Lent, the 40-day period of anticipation and preparation leading up to Easter (excluding Sundays). But what’s it all about? Some Christians attend services where ashes are put on their foreheads. Some, not all; it really just depends on local customs and traditions. Ashes symbolize our mourning … Continue reading What is Ash Wednesday all about?
What Lent can mean to you
Today is Ash Wednesday. It starts the 40-day journey to Easter (excluding Sundays) that we call Lent. Lent is a time of preparation. I like to think of it as spiritual training. It’s just so easy to let laziness creep into our faith. So we use Lent to hone our spiritual muscles as we get … Continue reading What Lent can mean to you
