JOURNEY: An Introduction to Ash Wednesday and Lent

written by Dr. Teresa McCaskill

Ash Wednesday, sometimes called the “Day of Ashes” starts the season of Lent. Lent is a period on the Christian calendar designed to help us prepare for Easter when we will celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Lent means “Fortieth.” This is why the Lenten season begins 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays). The number 40 is significant in that it parallels the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert where He was tempted by the devil (see Luke 4:1-13; Mark 1:12-13; Matthew 4:1-11). During Lent, Christians replicate the self-sacrifice and withdrawal that Jesus endured in the desert. As disciples of Jesus, we then follow His journey to the cross.

In this special service for Ash Wednesday, we invite you to receive a physical sign of your devotion to Jesus. This is the mark of the cross that will be placed upon your forehead. The ashes signify an inner posture of humility and repentance at the outset of your journey. Genesis 3:19 reminds us: “for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Receiving the ashes creates a solidarity with certain Old Testament figures who put on sackcloth and placed ashes upon their heads as a sign of mourning, repentance, and confession (see Nehemiah 9:1; Esther 4:1; Job 16:15). 

Journeying through the Lenten season can be powerful when we draw closer to Jesus in new ways and look to the Holy Spirit for guidance and sustenance. It is traditional to forego particular nourishments that we enjoy during Lent in order to experience something of the scarcity that Jesus experienced in the desert. Some forsake the unhealthy ways we try and soothe our pain and anxieties through food, drink, social media, and other habits. Taking away such physical things reminds us how important spiritual matters are for Christians. 

This year, we’d like to explore how Lent can also be a proactive time for us to consciously seek guidance from the Spirit for our daily lives and for our future. Instead of fasting from something that we eat or drink, why not consider giving up the ways we look for guidance and emotional/physical/spiritual sustenance from other sources outside of the Spirit (i.e., Facebook, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, podcasts, articles)? 

It is our prayer that you will experience the Spirit in a new way during Lent 2022. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, 

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

- Romans 15:13

The Journey Begins

You have now received the mark of a disciple: the ashes upon your forehead in the shape of a cross. Take a picture of yourself before it washes off. Use this image as a reminder of where you began your journey. Read Hebrews 12:1-2 and write down your impressions. 

Think of Lent as a journey or trip. You’re only going to take the essentials. What are some things you would like to leave behind during these next weeks? How might you lighten your load? What can you leave behind in terms of attitudes, habits, or emotional baggage?

Think about the nourishment you’ll need for strength and endurance during this journey. Is there any food or drink that takes away from your fitness? What could you add or take away from your diet that would help your wellbeing?

For this spiritual journey, we need a spiritual guide. Christ-followers have the Holy Spirit. What other voices do you listen to for guidance and direction? Can you put a pause on social media and other sources whose voices compete with the guidance you need from the Spirit? 

Take a moment to connect with the Holy Spirit. Take in some deep breaths and imagine He is in the breath. Breath out things that don’t belong in your relationship with Him. Write down a spiritual goal that you want to set for yourself during this Lenten season.

*All Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.