Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. After Jonah (finally!) did what the Lord asked of him, and called on the people of Nineveh to repent, the king of Nineveh covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes (Jonah 3:6) as a sign of mourning and to show repentance for his sins. A good example of this is in the Book of Jonah. The first reason for receiving ashes is that it connects us to people throughout Scripture who regarded ashes as a symbol of mourning and repentance. Why Ashes? They are a Sign of Mourning and Repentance So, why do it? Why do we have a day set aside in our liturgical calendar to remind ourselves of this? It seems kind of morbid, doesn’t it? But there are several reasons why it is not only important for us to do this, but also why so many Christians find it such a meaningful act. Kneeling at the altar, eyes closed, leaning forward in trust, it was very emotional for me to trace a cross in ashes on their foreheads as I gently spoke these words: “ Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” I still remember my first Ash Wednesday as a pastor, over twenty years ago now, and especially imposing the ashes on the foreheads of my wife and children (who were 6 and almost 3 at the time). Joel 2:1Īsh Wednesday brings back many memories for me. The worship service itself is very moving, beginning with a powerful reading from the prophet Joel:īlow the trumpet in Zion sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near.
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