Today is Ash Wednesday and at the Centurion West Presbyterian Church we all meet tonight for a very special Communion Service at the chapel, at 19:00.
Not all denominations observe Ash Wednesday. In the protestant world it is mainly Presbyterians, Lutherans, Methodists and Anglicans. But it is observed by Christians for probably more than 1600 years in some or other format and it is observed across the globe. On this day we remember our mortality and weakness and repent anew of all our sins. This reflection drives us to our Saviour Jesus and through considering his suffering over the next 40 days, we are assured of our salvation and of eternal life!
How did this custom start and should we still observe it after more than 1600 years? During the second century it became customary to baptise all Christian converts on Resurrection Sunday (Easter Sunday.) These new Christians had to be prepared for the confession of their faith and for their challenging walk with the Lord during those times of persecution and martyrdom. The preparations lasted 40 days – not counting Sundays.
Those who taught the candidates in preparation of baptism, shared in observing this time of strict spiritual discipline. After some time other Church members wanted to share in it again and over time it became a Season for all believers to observe. The season’s purpose was to be prepared to celebrate Easter in a meaningful way. Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Season of Lent.
The name Ash Wednesday recalls the ancient Near Eastern custom of placing ashes on one's head, signifying repentance, as related numerous times in the Bible.
Ash Wednesday is observed by a service of repentance as a result of our personal sins, and that of our congregation, our leaders, our denomination, our country. It is a time of reconciliation with God, our neighbour, our family, friends, children. It is a time to make peace with God, man, ourselves and our environment. We can only find peace in Christ Jesus who suffered and who died, to set us free.
May we come together as one before the Lord! Who knows what a blessing will be in stall for us, if we come together, as the one Body of the Lord!!
The death that leads to true life.
The Season of Lent leads us into a deeper spiritual relationship with Christ. Remembering all that Jesus did for us, it should lead us from knowing about Jesus, to loving and following him wholeheartedly.
It is a dark journey in which we confront the strongholds of evil in our lives, deeply ashamed of what we became as a result of the lack of discipline that should be an integral part of being followers of Christ.
It is also a journey that leads to the light of God’s presence when the cross, the blood, the suffering, death and the grave of Jesus grant us hope, forgiveness and a deep sense of joy about the love, grace and the mercy of God.
On Ash Wednesday we confront the evil and sin in us, in preparation of our journey with Christ on his way of suffering, learning to love him more and becoming more devoted to him.
Lent is also a Season for paying attention to our own lives. We remind ourselves that we are bound for death — and that we are bound to the death of Jesus Christ. Ash Wednesday and the whole of Lent provide a time to focus our attention on the mystery at the heart of the Christian life: that through death, the death of Jesus Christ, we have entered new life.
As Paul says to the Corinthians, “We are treated as impostors and yet are true, as unknown and yet are well known, as dying, and see — we are alive.”
This is the paradox of Christian life. We have been joined to Christ’s death once when we were saved, but we spend the rest of our lives growing to live into that union.
We have already died once, with Christ.
Yet the light of the resurrection waits for us at the end of the journey.
Ash Wednesday invites us to turn again, take up our cross, and move ahead on the way to meet the one who shapes us, marks us and claims us as his own. Because after dying in Christ comes the miracle to be resurrected in Christ.
May a meaningful journey into the life that Jesus Christ gives, be granted to all God’s people during this Season.
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