Why do Christians place ashes on their forehead during fasting season of Lent?

All Christians around the world, including Pakistan, will start their fast. At the beginning of the fast, Christians put ashes on their foreheads during the first day of the season of Lent.

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent. Many Christians begin Ash Wednesday by marking a Lenten calendar, praying daily devotional, and making a sacrifice that they will not partake of until the arrival of Eastertide. (that focuses on celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ),

Many Christians attend special church services. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or the dictum “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations.

Tradition of Ashes

1.The message is in the words of St. Paul: “ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

“God made him who had no sin to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ( 2 Corinthians 5: 20-21).”

2.”Repent, and believe in the Gospel”. This invitation is given at the beginning of the preaching of Jesus Christ. This invitation is also received at the beginning of the fasting season. This season is especially dedicated to change and renewal.

3. During the fasting season, preparations are made to revive the mystery of Pashka.

4.”And your Father who sees in secret will reward you ”(St. Matthew 6: 4, 6, 18). At the beginning of the Christian fasting journey, Jesus addresses everyone in these words. It urges sinners to realize that they are standing before a pure and glorious God. At the same time, it demonstrates a willingness to adapt, accept, obey, and change the axis of the Gospel.”

5. The church observes Christ’s ransom sacrifice throughout the year in Lutheran, but during the fasting season we would like to immerse ourselves in it, especially as the apostle pleads with us: “In the time of my favor I heard you,  and in the day of salvation I helped you.” (2 Corinthians 6: 2).

This is the crucial time when Christ was crucified and resurrected. The treasures of pleasure were delivered to us in a special way. So the psalmist writes, “Create in me a pure heart and put a new and strong spirit into my womb.” At the beginning of the fasting days, we have to respond strongly to the call for change.

6. Why does the church put ashes on our foreheads? Why does it remind us of death? Death is the effect of sin! Why? So that we may be ready for the Passover of Christ. The mystery that is for the salvation of the world. 

”And on the third day he rose again. Yes! We need to hear the ashes on Wednesday. ” You are dust and will return to dust. ” So that the Gospel, the truth of the resurrection may be revealed to us. Believe the Gospel.

7.We are invited through the discipline of fasting to move forward on the paths of love and hope through the signs of Christ. The Church makes us realize that the Christian life invites us to embrace the excesses of wealth and poverty, which frees us, to enable us to discover the presence of God, and to be more active, united, and united with our brothers and sisters. Always welcome with a wider friendship. Historical background

Background

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in Western Christianity. It is called the tradition to place Ashes because there was a custom in the ancient church, and this custom is also established in the Roman church that on that day the ashes which were blessed were placed on the foreheads of the worshipers. The ashes were obtained by burning the palm branches that had been brought to the church in the form of a palm Sunday worship procession.

In the seventh century AD, this day was declared as the first day of fasting and the ritual of receiving ashes started in the eighth century AD. The meaning of the ritual of meeting dust and ashes is reflected in references to the Old Testament, where it is a symbol of grief and repentance. 

Final words

We start the fasting season with Ash Wednesday. We need to keep our repentance and sacrifices with an earnest desire to draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ and to draw closer to the church. Ashes Buddha invites us to be ashes because we were created from ashes and dust and ashes and dust are our destiny. Ashes Buddha once reminds us of our inferiority.

Contemplate this notion as you interact with your peers. Focus on prayer, fasting, and charity. Fix your flaws. Return to your beloved God. Put the great sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ into practice and be ashes with Him.