{UAH} Why the Ashes?

 

Freinds, Ash Wednesday is on March 5, 2014 and opens up this season of penitence (change of heart or attitude).  "Remember, man/woman, you are dust, and unto dust you shall return."  So says the priest as he makes the sign of the cross with ashes on our foreheads.

 

Basically, the ashes remind us of two main things;  That our human bodies were made from nothing, and will return to nothing when we die.  Secondly, ashes are a symbol of this passing world of nothingness and emptiness, a reminder of our death.  Therefore, the imposition of ashes is also a symbol of penance and sorrow for our sins.  The practice of sprinkling ashes on one's head as a sign of penance was customary even in the Old Testament - in the Book of Esther, Mordecai put on sachcloth and ashes (Est. 4:1); Job sat in sackcloth and ashes to repent (Job 42:6); all of Ninevah put on sackcloth and ashes to repent after Jonah's preaching (Jon. 3:5-6).

 

Happy Lent

Paul Mugerwa