The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which this year takes place on February 18th. From the early days of our faith, Christians have observed the remembrance of Christ’s passion and resurrection with great reverence. It became the custom to prepare for that observance by a season of prayer and fasting, and the reconciliation of those who had been separated from the community of faith. By keeping the season of Lent, we take to heart God’s call to repentance and the assurance of forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel, and practice in our daily lives the work of reconciliation. We invite you, therefore, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and alms-giving/works of charity, and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word. To make a right beginning to this season it is appropriate to receive the mark of ashes as a reminder of our mortal nature and of God’s invitation to receive Christ’s redeeming work. Ashes are an ancient sign of penitence. From the Middle Ages it became the custom to begin Lent by being marked in ash with the sign of the cross. The reminder that we are dust turns our attention to the creative power of God, and God’s ability to heal the brokenness in our lives when we offer that brokenness to God. That turning to God is the work of Lent, preparation for the celebration of Easter.
