Lint or Lent...Why the dirt on the forhead

Is it LINT or LENT and why do some people have dirt on their foreheads?

In the beginnings of the Christian church, the first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection. It became the custom of the church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of LENT provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time for those who, because of grave sins and had been separated from the body of believers, were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and thus restored to the fellowship of the Church. The whole congregation was focused on the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a need of all Christians to have their faith and repentance renewed constantly. During this time of the LENTEN season it is good to focus ourselves on those parts of our life that need cleaning up. It is a time of searching out the heart and asking the Lord to show you those places in your life where you are trying to control. This is a time to relinquish that control and allow Jesus to exercise full Lordship in your life.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the church season called “Lent”. This is a time of spiritual warfare, fasting, penitence, and the preparation for the Easter feast.
It was in the tenth century that ashes were imposed on the foreheads of the penitent that were to be reinstated into the fellowship and full communion of the church.
Beginning in the eleventh century, ashes were imposed on the foreheads of all the faithful believers, as a reminder that the wages of sin is death. In Genesis 3:19, God said to Adam after the fall, “dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return”.
This marking of our foreheads, in the sign of the cross is also to remind us of our baptisms, where we were also marked with the sign of the cross. This reminder speaks very loud and clear of the salvation that is given to us in the death and resurrection of the second Adam, Jesus the Christ.
Yes, the wages of sin is death; But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. (Romans 6:23)
Fr. Don Wilson
Faith in Christ Anglican Church
9317 US Hwy 90 West
Lake City, Fl 32055
www.ficang.org
Holy Communion Sundays at 9:30am
754-2827