The Significance of Ashes

Looking toward Ash Wednesday

Ashes have had a variety of meanings for the people of God down through the ages. "I am but dust and ashes," uttered by both Abraham and Job admits human frailty. Sitting among ashes demonstrated deep mourning. Sackcloth and ashes were worn as a sign of repentance, mourning, or poverty. Daniel (of lion den fame), "by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes," sought an answer from God. Ashes become an outward sign of an earnest contrite heart, humbled before the Creator.

The ashes of Ash Wednesday can remind us of our human frailty, our repentance, our mourning for sin even as we accept that in God's now-and-not-yet reign, we are promised "beauty for ashes, an oil of gladness instead of mourning."

Hear the words of the Lord when he says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." May our hearts be turned toward the Lord in this season of reflection, prayer, and spiritual renewal.




[In case you are curious: Genesis 18:27; Job 30:19; Job 42:6; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; Ester 4:1, 3; Matthew 11:21; Isaiah 61:3; Matthew 5:6.]