ASH WEDNESDAY

The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday, occurring 40 days before Easter, it falls on a different date each year. Sundays are always excluded. At services ashes are put on the forehead of the faithful, not to be washed off until after sundown. One of the following scriptures is usually spoken when applying the ashes to the forehead.

Genesis 3:19 (King James Version) 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Mark 1:15 (King James Version) 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

The ashes are sacramental, not a sacrament. Usually made from burnt palm leaves from last yeas Palm Sunday service they are sometime mixed with “holy” oil or water, which serves as a fixative.

In some churches other practices are added or substituted; example a small piece of paper might be given to the person on which they can write a sin they want to confess. These are taken to the altar where they are burned.

The day is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat and repentance. The first day of Lent comes the day after Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday, the last day of carnival season. Carnival comes from Latin meaning farewell to meat, or Italian to remove meat. Meat is prohibited during Lent.

Ash Wednesday does not commemorate any event. Ash Wednesday like Lent is not consistent with scripture. In fact Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:16-18 (King James Version) 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

The following scriptures show some examples of people putting dust on their heads, or as with Tamar she put ashes. In the Old Testament ashes or dust was a sign of mourning. "That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head." (1 Samuel 4:12) "On the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor." (2 Samuel 1:20 "Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went." (2 Samuel 13:19) "When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head." (2 Samuel 15:32)

Conclusion: it is not in the Bible, it is not from God. Other thoughts: meat is not allowed but it is okay to eat seafood. In all my searches I have never found seafood listed as a vegetable, mineral, or anything other then meat.

God Bless,

rECj/LJG