“Remember you dust, and to dust you shall return” we are told. God created humankind from the dust of the earth, and it is to dust that we shall all return. The ashes of Ash Wednesday remind us of our mortality. Lent is season for changing your life, for turning things around, for getting back on the right path – what we sometimes call, in church-speak, “repentance.” It lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays) reminding us of the flooding rains of Noah’s time ( Genesis 7:17-19), Israel wandering in the wilderness ( Numbers 32:13), and of Jesus’ temptation in the desert ( Mark 1:12-13). This preparation happens through an emphasis on a few basic faith practices: worship, prayer, generosity, self-denial, and service to others. Today, Lent more often is a time when Christians prepare themselves for Easter and are invited to deeper faith, stronger community, and a closer connection to God. Historically, Lent was a time when new Christians prepared themselves for baptism on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Christian season known as Lent (no, not the stuff in your belly-button, that’s “lint”).
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