Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday (formally (not formerly..) the Day of Ashes). It is the Wednesday that marks the beginning of Lent, forty days before good friday. It is a day when a lot of Christians have their forheads marked with an Ash cross.
Why a cross on the forhead Marking the forhead is a traditional sign of ownership. It is sort of imitating the “mark of God” referenced in Revelation 7, 9, 14. Also symbolizes the “mark of protection” on people’s forheads in Ezekiel 9.
Why ashes? In the bible, ashes are a symbol of penance and mourning. (1 samuel 4, 2 samuel 1, etc etc etc). It is also alluding to the fact that we are “from ashes, and to ash we will return” (Gen. 3:19).
Now you know. Which is more than can be said for the masses (pun intended) that flock to have a priest put some palm-frond ash on their forheads on this night (you would be amazed at the amount of people that I see with ash crosses on their head lining up for the bars…).
The mark is to remind you that you are a servant of God… maybe i’ll put some ash on my head in repentance… I just saw The Passion of the Christ tonight… I need to collect my thoughts, and I will have a full report later…
Incredible stuff though. You should go see it.
