Ash Wednesday: Come In Sorrow and Contrition

February 22, 2012: On this day, the Christian church on earth begins the season of Lent. During the next forty days (plus Sundays), it has long been the custom to recall and contemplate the sufferings and death of Christ Jesus. Needless to say, the mood of the season is one of sorrow and mourning, but the sufferings and death of Christ Jesus are not the reasons for sorrow.
The Christian church calls the first day of the Lenten season Ash Wednesday. As early as the eighth century, Christians have had ashes applied to their heads on Ash Wednesday as a sign of their sorrow and contrition. The abbot Aelfric (955-1020) explained: “We read in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins” (Retrieved from: http://www.orlutheran.com/html/ash.html). The book of Job contains an example of what the Christian church sought to imitate. Having been rebuked by God, Job confesses, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6).
It may not be our custom today to apply ashes, but the message of Lent remains the same. On Ash Wednesday, God’s Word reminds us that we—as sinners—need a Savior. As we ponder our sinfulness and its consequences, we should be moved to sorrow and contrition before God.
Most people understand that contrition over sin involves feelings of sorrow and guilt. Job expressed such sorrow. Sensing his guilt and shame, Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:62).
But true contrition involves faith in God’s solution to our sinfulness. The Apostle Paul serves as an example: This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief (1 Timothy 1:15). Without faith in Christ Jesus as Savior, there is no genuine contrition and the individual remains in sin. Judas Iscariot, the son of perdition (John 17:12), regretted betraying Jesus, but did not believe and committed suicide instead. However, by faith in Jesus, we join with other Christians echoing the psalmist: “I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).
During the Divine Service on Ash Wednesday, or prior to Holy Communion, the pastor may ask us, “Do you promise that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will amend your sinful life?” Our answer, “I do so promise,” is the Christian’s response to God’s mercy. Redeemed, restored, and forgiven, we are motivated by the words of Jesus, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11).
In the spirit of contrition and amendment of life, let us follow the example of Christ Jesus and conduct ourselves as His own dear children. The Gospels show us many examples. After believing in Christ Jesus, the tax collector Zacchaeus promised to repay those from whom he stole. The prodigal son was willing to humble himself to become a bond-servant. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus urged, “If you…remember that your brother has something against you…be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:23–24).
With all this in mind, may this Ash Wednesday be a grand opportunity for repentance and spiritual renewal in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Bruce Schwark is pastor of Pinehurst Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.