Today is Ash Wednesday. Often called the Day of Ashes, Ash Wednesday commences the 40 days Lenten season which focuses the heart of Christians on repentance and prayer, usually through personal penitence and communal confession.
Observed in the seventh week before Easter, the event is marked with Holy Mass and Divine Service. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of worshippers to either the words of “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or the dictum: “Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return”.
Ashes are prepared by burning the palm leaves from previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations. On Palm Sunday, churches bless and handout palm fronds to attendees, a reference to the Gospels’ account of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when onlookers lay palm branches on His path.
Ashes were used in ancient times to express grief, sorrow for sins and faults. The practice of using ashes is also an external sign of repentance, fasting, reflection and ultimately celebration.
During mass or worship service, the officiating minister will usually share a sermon that is penitential and reflective in nature. The mood is solemn and is characterized by a responsive passage of scripture.
However, after all the ceremonies, the congregation will be invited to receive the ashes on their foreheads which symbolizes death and repentance. Ashes are equivalent to Dust and human flesh is composed of dust and when a human corpse decomposes, it returns to dust or ash.
So, as we observe the Ash Wednesday with sober reflection and soul searching, we should also bear in mind the mood of the nation. Nigeria is faced with many challenges including high cost of living as a result of the free fall of naira in the foreign exchange market and increase in the cost of petrol.
This year’s Ash Wednesday is very spectacular because it coincided with Valentine’s day, which is a day of showing love, which the church always preaches. One needs to love his neighbor as self, because the church preaches Agape love. The faithful need to love selves and neighbors as Christ loved the church.
It is because of the God’s love on the people and the church, that he sent His only begotten son Jesus Christ to come, suffer and die for mankind for the salvation and redemption of their sins. Ash Wednesday provides the faithful the opportunity to kneel down, fast and pray for the youths, who are gradually going back to idolatry for them to repent and embrace God their creator.
The Ash Wednesday should also afford the faithful a golden opportunity to pray for the success of the Nigerian leaders, as well as for the peace, unity, progress and development of Nigeria.
Ndi Anambra should come together, to pray for Professor Chukwuma Soludo to uplift the State to a liveable and prosperous homeland. Anambra State is a bed of roses for industrialization. Ndi Anambra, including traditional rulers, the clergy and community leaders, should come together in prayers, fasting and unceasing supplications to God.
As we mark this year’s Ash Wednesday today, which begins the Lenten season, we must remember that this is a season we should purify their hearts, control their desires and grow in Holiness.
Let us use this period to pray for an end to all societal vices in Nigeria. May God, continue to hear our prayers.
Written by VENERABLE SAMUAL OKONKWO
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