Lent began last week, with Ash Wednesday marking the first day of this pre-Easter ceremonial season. I noticed several Catholic friends and others with ash crosses smeared on their foreheads that day, and I began to think about ashes.

We clean ashes out of the fireplace and barbeque grill for safety and cleanliness reasons, but I have always thought of ashes as a mere by-product (dirt, if you will) with no real significance of their own. We’re all familiar with the comparison of our earthly bodies to “dust and ashes,” but the Bible actually has dozens of references to ashes for specific purposes.

Ash Wednesday is supposed to be a day of repentance and sorrow for our sins, which corresponds with several Bible passages about ashes being used during times of mourning. During periods of intense anguish, the Israelites would often wear sackcloth and put ashes on their head as a symbol of their grief.

Interestingly, Leviticus and Numbers also give strict instructions about how the ashes from burnt offerings are to be cared for, as well as directions on using ashes as a sort of filtration system for drinking water. The ashes were not just a by-product of the offering; they were an important part of the worship experience.

In addition to participating in Ash Wednesday services, some people commit to giving up something for the six weeks of Lent as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice. Whether you are participating in a formal manner or not, let us turn our hearts toward Easter in the coming weeks. Let’s look beyond the candy-laden shelves, the painted eggs and the stuffed bunnies. Christmas was just a couple of months ago. Christ came to die … for us … and he reigns forevermore. Amen!