The Lenten season officially began this past Wednesday, the day Christians call “Ash Wednesday.” Many years ago, a custom developed in churches (some still practice) that in a worship service on this day the people would come forward and have the minister apply ash to their foreheads. While doing so the pastor would say, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” “Dust and ashes” symbolized mortality, which remains a consequence of sin. Also, “dust and ashes”—especially as we have learned from the Old Testament—served as a practice and outward sign of grieving and repentance.
While many Lutheran churches no longer stress outward customs such as applying ash to the forehead, certainly the focus on repentance of sins is necessary. After all, if a person doesn’t see his sins, he would see no need of a Savior from sin.
That’s why, then, the Sunday and special midweek services revolve around the Passion of our Jesus, His suffering and death, which paid for our sins. Thus, we see how the ministry of Jesus takes Him step by step to the purpose for which He was sent—to offer Himself as our sin-sacrifice to God, to rescue us from sin and its mortal consequences.