Those who are soldiers of the temple are of God.
The ash cross has a rich and complex symbolism. Globally, you say something like: ‘My life is limited, I make mistakes, but I belong to Jesus and I want to do things differently, do it well.
Wednesday, the end of the carnival, we get our ash cross in the Church. That is the beginning of Lent, after a period of celebrating carnival, good food and drink. Lent comes from 40 days until Easter. 40 days that Jesus went into the desert, did not eat or drink and was tested by satan.
The ash cross is for reflection, penance, conversion. It symbolizes: I am ashes and Jesus became ashes on the cross for me.
Stands for how transient life is, death. “You have come out of ashes and to ashes you return” In earlier times, people who mourned and or do penance did: smear ashes on themselves. You showed it publicly. Nowadays we still wear mourning clothes. The ashes are not just ashes. It is made from the burnt palm branches. The palm branches that were used at Palm Sunday last year. People greeted Jesus on a donkey when he entered Jerusalem. And sing to him: “Hosanna in the Highest”. In the church service, palm branches are waved, which are later burned.
Cross is of course THE symbol of the Christians that refers to the crucifixion of Jesus. Because the cross is done with ashes, is because, Jesus was human and therefore mortal. The ash “cleans” at the same time, like soap does. The crucifixion washes away the sin of all people.
If something is on your forehead, you carry it out. Like a kind of billboard. You show everyone: this is me and this is what I stand for.
February 14, 2024
