Ash Wednesday
Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty days to prepare for His ministry. It was, for Him, a time of contemplation, reflection, and preparation. Lent consists of the forty days before Easter, not counting Sundays, because they are always the joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Therefore, the first day of Lent is always a Wednesday.
In ancient times, people marked times of fasting, prayer, repentance, and remorse by placing ashes on their foreheads, as in 2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1-3, Job 42:6, Jeremiah 6:26. This scriptural custom entered the church from Judaism, and it is most appropriate on Ash Wednesday, when we begin a period of sober reflection, self-examination, and spiritual redirection.
Traditionally, the ashes for Ash Wednesday service come from burning the palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday.
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Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty days to prepare for His ministry. It was, for Him, a time of contemplation, reflection, and preparation. Lent consists of the forty days before Easter, not counting Sundays, because they are always the joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Therefore, the first day of Lent is always a Wednesday.
In ancient times, people marked times of fasting, prayer, repentance, and remorse by placing ashes on their foreheads, as in 2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1-3, Job 42:6, Jeremiah 6:26. This scriptural custom entered the church from Judaism, and it is most appropriate on Ash Wednesday, when we begin a period of sober reflection, self-examination, and spiritual redirection.
Traditionally, the ashes for Ash Wednesday service come from burning the palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday.
Return to Did you know