Lent begins with Ash Wednesday
Dominica News Online - Wednesday, February 13th, 2013 at 11:59 AM
Today the season of Lent begins with the observance of Ash Wednesday in the Catholic Church and many other traditional Christian denominations.
Lent lasts for six and a half weeks and during that time the Church remembers the forty days Jesus spent in the desert fasting, praying and preparing for his ministry.
The Church now spends this forty days fasting, praying and giving alms in preparation for the most important celebration of the Christian liturgical year, EASTER.
The Lenten season is a time set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ – his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection
Fasting is a discipline practiced by Christians from the inception of the faith to deepen their level of intimacy with God. Through fasting Christians believe they worship God by earnestly seeking Him more than worldly pleasures.
When Christians say no to their fleshly appetites they believe their hunger for God grows, and they get to taste His presence. (James 4:8; Luke 14:18-20; Mark 4:19).
Ash Wednesday got its name from the ash placed on the forehead of believers as the season of Lent begins.
The practice is common throughout much of Christianity but is celebrated mainly by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, and Methodists.
The use of ash to goes back to ancient time and was used to express mourning. The practice is common in the Old Testament where sprinkling oneself with ash was a way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults.
The prophet Jeremiah, for example, calls for repentance this way: “O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes” (Jeremiah 6:26).
The prophet Daniel pleaded for God to rescue Israel with sackcloth and ashes as a sign of Israel’s repentance: “I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel 9:3).
Perhaps the best known example of repentance in the Old Testament also involves ashes. When the prophet Jonah finally obeyed God’s command and preached in the great city of Nineveh, his preaching was amazingly effective. Word of his message was carried to the king of Nineveh. “When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes” (Jonah 3:6).
In the New Testament, Jesus also refers to the use of sackcloth and ashes as signs of repentance: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes” (Mathew 11:21, Luke 10:13).
Ash Wednesday began appearing in Christian writings around the 8th century. In those early days the ash was sprinkled on the head of the penitent person as opposed to being anointed on the forehead, as it is done today.
Ash Wednesday, like the season of Lent, is never mentioned in Scripture and is not commanded by God. Christians are free to either observe or not observe it. It also should be obvious that the imposition of ashes, like similar external practices, are meaningless, even hypocritical, unless there is a corresponding inner repentance and change of behavior. This is made clear in Isaiah 58:5-7 when God said:
“Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes ? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter– when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
However, the Church recommends the observance of Ash Wednesday and Lent as a grand opportunity for repentance and spiritual renewal.
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15 Comments
Its suprising to see the (so called christians,non catholic, angelican, methodist etc)are the ones taking part in the barcanal part of canival and not the tradition part.however their relatives and family members are the one to comment and say all kind of thing… we all know what our belief are…and as the lent season begins let us put aside all the negativity and put the lord first in all what we do even after lent and forever……may the lord be with all the “‘so called cRiStIaNs hepocrit who speak negative and say the are christians (protestants)
Lent is observed by millions of catholics all over the world. Any in 99% of these places there is no carnival before lent. It happens to coincide in some countries. Stop believing the propaganda and stop puting Lent and carnival together. One has nothing to do with the other.
Sir, the timing of the two-day jump-up in Dominica is not determined by DFC or DDA or even Cabinet. Ok! It is determined by the Pope in Rome. Whenever the Pope says that Ash Wednesday falls, carnival jump-up in Dominica are the two-days before. That’s the reason carnival comes early in some years and later in others. Its all about when the Pope says Ash Wednesday is.
When Christians say no to their fleshly appetites they believe their hunger for God grows, and they get to taste His presence. (James 4:8; Luke 14:18-20; Mark 4:19)–News Article
First of all it is not just believing, it is a fact that when a person in God dies to the appetites, gratifications, or ego of the flesh they become hungry for God and His Love, the very “Essence” of Life, which the “Bread” in the Body of Jesus Christ. Jesus commands us to eat this Bread that we might have Life in us. John 6 : 59
A Christian, who is able to say no to their fleshly appetites and its lust, is in the process of dying to the flesh and its lust–right into complete transformation through a renewed state of mind, to know what is the good, and acceptable, and Will of God–Romans 12: 2
Therefore how does lent represent this truth, as it comes right after carnival, which will happen again the following year? And again and again and again!
1 John 2:16 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of man, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
Ash Wednesday, like the season of Lent, is never mentioned in Scripture and is not commanded by God–News article I say Amen to that!
That is the reason God lamented through His prophet Isaiah, when He said: This people honor Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Isaiah 29:13
People of Dominica may I remind you that religion is the work of men–their doctrines and commandments are not of God; those teachings and works do not enchant wisdom, understanding and knowledge of the God of Love and Holiness in Spirit and Truth.
Jesus has warned us that the time is now, that we who claim to be believers or Christians, should worship God in Spirit and Truth, not by the wisdom and philosophy of man.
When He prayed on behalf of His disciples at the time of His days on Earth, Jesus said: “And this is Eternal Life, that they may know You the One True God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”. John 17: 3
So knowledge of God Almighty, Eternal Spirit, Christ in the Son, whose name is “Jesus” is evidence of Eternal Life in us.
Our goal as Christians, is to attain this Life in us; it is Salvation and Reconciliation to our God, who is a Holy God. It all happens by sincere faith, humility, trust, and obedience, not by the works of religion, lest any man should boast.
There is no other way to this Life, but through our intimate Love relationship with God, by faith, as we study, learn, eat, ingest, and digest, His Word, the message of Life in the Holy Bible. Blessing to all of you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Through fasting Christians believe they worship God by earnestly seeking Him more than worldly pleasures–News Article
Here is another contradiction, pertaining to lent which follows carnival, year in and year out. How does this practice of fasting discourages the flesh from worldly pleasures–if people go right back that worldly pleasure the following year?
It doesn’t because there is no sincerity in this practice. But God does call us to fast and pray, for the needs of Life in the Spirit. We cannot serve God and mammon at the same time.
Ash Wednesday got its name from the ash placed on the forehead of believers as the season of Lent begin–News Article
I have read that the spoken words to this ritual declares: “Dust you are and to dust you shall return” as the leader makes that cross on the person’s forehead.
I understand that if I pass away in the body today, my physical self will return to the dust it was formed from, but having passed away in the body, with Life in Jesus Christ, my soul is assured to be resurrected through a glorious body of Spiritual Light, the Life of Jesus Christ, as I leave the dust in the grave.
Do those churches who practice that ritual along with its spoken words, actually understand that they are condemning people to return to the dust of physical existence forever more, because there is is no Spiritual meaning to that practice?
Well let us read again, what God has to say through His prophet Isaiah right here in the message of this article; Isaiah 58-5-7
Why do people think that they can fool God almighty.?When people who have religion,but not one ounce of salvation. Jump-up carnival Monday and Tuesday,get involved in all kind of bacannal and Reveling.Yet, lo and behold they are holier than thou come Ash Wednesday.Here is the hypocrisy in this lenten exercise.They are looking forward for carnival 2014 and start preparing for next yr.in November this year.
Friends be not deceive God is not mock nor is He daft.
The message is,Repent so that the Lord can cleans you from your sins,and He will give you the power and strength to live for Him EVERY DAY.If you are defiant and decide “I will not turn from my sins and all these religious nonsense”
The only one left is hell fire.
Remember non need perish for Christ has died.
Amen! to that, but let me correct you on that, nobody can fool GOD,we fool ourselves Why? because He is GOD.
What we call “Carnival” is actually the “Feast of Bacchanalia.” I heard some learnt men speaking about carnival in the context that it is how we remember our freedom from slavery which was signed into abolition in 1844. Hey, Mr. Learnt Man, do you know why we have August Monday holiday? Slavery was abolished in August, hence the annual holiday on the first Monday in August. So wheel and come again with this thing about emancipation celebration in February.
Carnival has nothing to do with slavery. it began as a catholic feast. this church brought it here.
allu well brave we with allu sin and ash over and over again we
hmmmmm
so u mean to tell me every year allu going according to the flesh and then go for ashes..is so nor..papamet..so after allu sewo..screw with all kind of men and women..three sum for sum..hatchay people left is right and then allu say is allu in sackcloth on ash wednesday..is so nor..and every year is de same thing..do not trifle with God..no one knows the day nor the hour ..no one knows when he will die..we shouldn’t plan our snin at all..so after allu put ash this year next year same thing again..wey pa pa. O Lord help send sense to the people pf this world.
Who all you think all you fooling with these meaningless rituals like putting ash on forehead nah? After deliberately behaving like the devil’s front line foot soldiers for the past few days, now all you going to church pretending to be sorry eh.
Some of all you really think God can be fooled.
Put away rituals and turn to Jesus Christ and the lifestyle he preaches in his word.
…..Judge not, so that thou shall not be Judge. He who is without sin, cast the first stone….
Why is it that for hundreds of years people continue to observe and participate in certain activities without question or research.
The information is readily available. It is even more so today, the age of the internet.
Educate yourself people. Seek the face of God. Stop being willingly blind. The time is at hand.
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