Ash Wednesday and Lent

Lent is a period of 40 days leading up to Easter in which people prepare themselves to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, often by fasting and prayer. The 40 days is a reference to the 40-day period in which Jesus fasted in the desert in preparation for beginning his ministry. Forty days symbolizes a time of testing in the Bible: 40 days of rain for the flood, 40 days on the mountain for Moses to receive the ten commandments (twice), 40 days that Jesus spent on earth between his resurrection and ascent to heaven. In the Catholic church, that 40 days was stretched to 46 to exclude Sundays, giving people a break in their fast once a week.

The tradition of observing Lent was codified into the church around the time of the council of Nicea in 325 AD. However, there is evidence of some early churches observing a period of fasting even before that. There is nothing in the Bible about observing Lent before Easter. It is part of the liturgical calendar for Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Anglicans, and a few other denominations. Even more Christian churches observe Lent informally because it helps us to focus on the resurrection and what it means.

The Vatican rules for Lent have changed over history. In the early days, observers were restricted to one meal per day, but that was relaxed because working people were suffering greatly. Over time, the fast was adjusted to the avoidance of certain rich foods, such as fat, sugar, and meat. This led to the tradition of Carnival or Mardi Gras, when everyday people partied hard to use up their supplies of forbidden foods before the deprivation of Lent. This is also the thinking behind Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday. These traditions are, of course, outside the religious observance. The modern-day Catholic church requires restricted food on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstinence from meat on all Fridays during Lent (that explains the Friday fish fries). Children, the ill and elderly, and pregnant or nursing mothers are exempt. There are also guidelines for prayer and almsgiving during Lent.

At First Christian Church, we informally observe Lent as a time of preparation and prayer, but what form that takes is left up to the individual. Fasting is interpreted as a personal sacrifice that helps us focus on Jesus and His sacrifice. Yours may involve food or some other pleasurable indulgence, or it may involve a habit you give up such as cursing, smoking, gossip, or social media. Giving to charity is also a sacrifice when you can feel it. Lent is also a time to expand and renew our prayer life and become closer to God.

The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday, which is February 18th this year. Ashes are an Old Testament symbol of mourning, repentance, and humility, particularly when applied to one's head. In Christian churches, this means the conferring of ashes, when the church leader applies ashes to one's forehead in the shape of a cross, signifying repentance and humility. The ashes are the burned remains of the palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday service. The application is accompanied by a quote from Genesis 3:19 "For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.” This is a reminder of both our humble origins and our physical mortality.

Please join us for Ash Wednesday services at First Christian Church of Corbin on February 18th at 6 PM. There will be no meal that night.