Have you read the Old Testament?
The wearing of ashes is a common penitential practice throughout the Old Testament. One example is found in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord . . . O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us” (6:22-26).
God formed Adam out of the ‘dust’ of the earth, which we read about in Genesis 2:7. In addition, Jesus healed the blind man with clay (earth and spit) in John 9:6. We mark ourselves with ashes as a ‘new beginning’ at the onset of Lent, allowing the life of Jesus Christ to make us whole and new again.
Jesus even speaks in a positive way of wearing ashes as a sign of repentance. Matthew says Jesus “began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.” Jesus then thunders at them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matt. 11:20-21).
Just as a note - the ashes on the forehead seems to vary - in Germany, the UK and Hispanophone countries, it is on the forehead, while in Poland, Italy etc. it is sprinkled on the head.
In all my years of liturgical churching, last Wednesday was the first time I saw my pastor mark the cross on the right hand of any who asked. It seems that this is meant as a rebuttal to the mark of the beast, which will be placed either on the forehead or the right hand. Since the imposition of ashes is a tradition based on Scripture and not a specific requirement of Scripture (such as the Eucharist or baptism), how the tradition is done only matters to the extent that it is designed to honor Christ.
MayflowerMadam, one thing the other explanations didn't mention is that the ashes are supposed to be from the burning of the palm fronds used the previous Palm Sunday. It is a reminder that those who shout Hosanna are the same people who put Christ on the cross--that it is our sins that make Him have to die for us.
I think it is also odd that if some one wanted to repent and follow the ritual of Jer 6:22-26 (if you wanted to call it a ritual) they would go all out and roll in a pile of ashes and put on a sack cloth and go out into the public so everybody knows they are repenting. But when was the last time you've seen some one do that, I haven't but maybe I don't understand this Lent/repentance stuff, or maybe I was born on the wrong side of the tracks per say.
I’m glad that question was asked and answered. I never made that connection.
“Have you read the Old Testament?”
No; I never did. Must’ve missed that day in my four years of Seminary.
(BTW - No longer under law — O.T.; now under Grace.)