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February 20, 2010

Life’s Like That - Feb. 21, 2010

By Jerry Bullock Daily Record Columnist The San Marcos Record Sat Feb 20, 2010, 03:13 PM CST

This past Wednesday marked the official opening of the Easter season as practiced by many Protestant denominations. February 17th, Ash Wednesday, is recognized this year as the beginning of Lent. It occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as Feb. 4 or as late as March 10.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are typically gathered after the Palm crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then on those of congregants. While the mark is traditionally the sign of the cross, it may be nothing more than a dot placed on the forehead of the congregant.

The worshipper traditionally retains it until it wears off. The act echoes the ancient Near Eastern tradition of throwing ashes over one's head to signify repentance before God (as related in the Bible). The priest or minister says one of the following when applying the ashes:

Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

—Genesis 3:19

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

—Mark 1:15

Repent, and hear the good news.

—Mark 1:15

The beginning of Lent marks a time of introspection, restraint, fasting and repentance. It is one of the most important days in the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. The allusion is to the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness as he began his teaching. For the Savior this was a time of fasting and seeking after the will of the Father.

Ashes represent mourning. An ancient example of one expressing one's penitence is found in Job 42:3-6. Job says to God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. The other eye wandereth of its own accord. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (vv. 5-6, KJV)

While not specifically instituted in the Bible text, the 40-day period of repentance is also analogous to the 40 days during which Moses repented and fasted in response to the making of the golden calf. (Jews today follow a 40-day period of repenting during the High Holy Days from Rosh Chodesh Elul to Yom Kippur.)

For most American Christians neither fasting nor repentance holds an important place in their lives. Yet when The Christ was asked why he could heal when his disciples could not, His answer was fasting and prayer. When the woman caught in adultery was spared, it was because of her repentance and her sins were forgiven.

If we are truly concerned about our nation we need to go to our knees and confess our sins, seeking God’s mercy. When we do, the promise is “I will heal your nation.”

As the Cable Guy says, “Folks, let’s git er dun.”

(The information about Lent is from Wikipedia.)

Jerry Bullock has written his weekly column for the Daily Record for more than 20 years. Jerry is a retired Air Force colonel, an ordained Baptist minister, professional counselor, military historian, speaker, and writer.

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