Ash Wednesday Reflection
By: Chaplain Cecilia Askew

There are many Christians who do not know why those of us of the Roman & Anglo Catholic tradition observe this day. It is my hope that this article will not only enlighten you but encourage you to observe the Lenten season as a time of refreshing.

Ash Wednesday is the 7th Wednesday [6th February – this year] before Easter Sunday and marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. The name comes from the ancient practise of placing ashes on worshippers’ heads or foreheads as a sign of humility before God, representing a symbol of mourning and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world. It not only foreshadows the mourning because of the death of Christ, it also places the worshipper in a position to realise the result of sin. Ash Wednesday is meant to be a serious day of reflection for the Christian. He or she should take this time to make a firm determination to make changes in their lives and fully embrace Christ-likeness. It is not about solely giving up things, but taking on the person of Jesus Christ.

Historically, in the early church, ashes were not offered to everyone. This was reserved for those worshippers who had made a public confession of sin and sought to be restored to the fellowship of the community at the celebration of Easter. Over a period of time this practise changed and the imposition of ashes was extended to the entire congregation in services very similar to those that are now observed in the liturgical Christian churches on Ash Wednesday.

From a biblical stance, Ashes are a symbol of bereavement and atonement. During bible times it was customary to fast, wear sackcloth, and sit in dust and ashes. If you read the Old Testament you will find that Blessed ashes have always been used in rituals to suggest atonement: [Numbers 19, 2nd Samuel 13:12-19, Ester 4:1-4,Jeremiah 6:22-26]. Further it can be said that they also symbolise death and remind us of our mortality. So when the priest places the ashes on your forehead, he will say, “Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shall return,“

During the Lenten season I hope that you will meditate on and study the following psalms that reflect the season of Lent: psalms 95, 32, 143, 102, 37, 35, 42, 43, 138, 29, 61 and 68. I trust that new insights will be gained from purposefully reading and meditating of these readings.

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A trained Pastoral Counsellor and Spiritual Director she also completed the requirements for Level 1 Clinical Pastoral Education and is a Certified Chaplain under the auspices of the Public Health Authority [Bahamas]. She holds Pastoral Care membership with the Association of Christian Counsellors [UK] and is a member of Spiritual Directors International. She is a Christian author and has written many articles for bible study and devotions and published two devotionals.

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