Have you ever wondered about the deeper meaning behind Ash Wednesday and Lent? Maybe you’ve seen people with ashes on their foreheads, or heard friends talking about giving something up for Lent, and felt a little curious.
You’re in the right place!
One of our favorite JOY FM artists, Matt Maher, broke it down in a way that’s super relatable, and honestly, it makes you see these traditions in a whole new light.
View this video with Matt Maher, and other interviews with JOY FM artists videos on the JOY FM YouTube Channel.
What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday marks the very beginning of the season of Lent. Think of it as the starting line of a 40-day spiritual marathon. It always falls on a Wednesday, exactly 46 days before Easter Sunday (40 fasting days, plus 6 Sundays, which aren’t considered fasting days). So, it’s a moving date each year, depending on when Easter is.
But what actually happens on Ash Wednesday? Primarily, it’s a day when many Christians attend special church services to receive ashes on their foreheads. These ashes are usually made by burning the palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. The priest or minister will make the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead, often saying words like, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” or “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” Powerful stuff, right? It’s a stark reminder of our mortality and an invitation to turn back to God.
What is Lent?
So, if Ash Wednesday kicks things off, what exactly is Lent? The days of Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, almsgiving (giving to charity), and self-denial observed by many Christian denominations, including Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, and Anglicans, among others. It’s a time of preparation and reflection leading up to the celebration of Easter.
Why forty days?
This number holds significant meaning in the Bible. It echoes Jesus’s forty days of fasting and temptation in the desert before beginning his public ministry. It also reminds us of the forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, and the forty days and nights of rain during the great flood. It’s a period historically associated with purification, testing, and preparation for something new. During Lent, the focus is on spiritual renewal, a kind of internal “spring cleaning” to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the profound joy of Easter – the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Why do we receive ashes on our foreheads on the first day of Lent?
And those ashes you see folks wearing on their foreheads in the shape of a cross at the start of Lent?
The act of receiving ashes on our foreheads is deeply symbolic and has ancient roots. As we touched on earlier, the ashes themselves come from burnt palm branches, linking them directly to Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
They’re actually burned-up palm branches from last year’s Palm Sunday. Back in the day, palms were a big deal, symbolizing victory and even rebellion. When Jesus rolled into Jerusalem with everyone waving palms, it was like a silent shout for change.
Wearing those ashes? It’s a reminder we’re all in this fleeting life together, but there’s hope in what comes next.
“It’s a reminder of our mortality. Nobody’s getting out of here alive except through Christ. And It is an outward expression of faith in the gospel. And it is in some ways sort of a counter-cultural thing of being signed.”
-Matt Maher
If this all sounds a bit intense, that’s kind of the point. Lent’s a time to dial back and dig deep, leading up to Easter. It’s about more than just giving things up—it’s about getting closer to the heart of what matters.
Why do we fast and abstain from meat?
So, about not eating meat on Fridays…
Matt says it’s like a mini-fast, a nod to the day Jesus died. It’s not just about ditching meat; it’s about making space for something bigger, like a spiritual reset.
“It’s a denial of self […] It’s making room for His grace. And so abstaining from meat on Fridays became sort of another way in which we’re once again taking time throughout this journey towards Easter to really consider the gift of what Jesus has done for us.”
Fasting and abstinence are traditional practices during Lent, particularly for the catholic church and some other denominations.
- Fasting: For Catholics, this typically means eating only one full meal and two smaller meals (which, when combined, do not equal the full meal) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (the week of Holy Week). It’s not about starving yourself; it’s about intentionally experiencing hunger, even in a small way, to remind us of our spiritual hunger for God. It’s also a way to exercise self-control and detachment from worldly comforts.
- Abstinence from Meat: Traditionally, Catholics abstain from meat (red meat and poultry) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent. Why meat? In many cultures throughout history, meat was considered a celebratory or luxurious food. Giving it up is a small sacrifice, a way of “giving something up” in solidarity with Christ’s sacrifice. It’s a symbolic act, a moment to remember those who are hungry and to offer a small penance.
Beyond these specific requirements, many people choose to “give up” something else at the beginning of lent – chocolate, social media, a favorite TV show, or even complaining! The intention is to replace that “something” with a spiritual practice: more prayer, reading the Bible, acts of charity, or spending quality time with loved ones.
The meaning of Lent
Lent is about so much more than ashes or giving up chocolate!
It’s an invitation to slow down and let God do some real work in your heart. The Lenten season gives us space to reflect, to ask where we are spiritually, and to clear out the habits or distractions that keep us from growing closer to Him. As we lean into prayer, fasting, and reflection, we’re really preparing our hearts to fully experience the joy and hope of Easter.
When we take on Lenten practices, we’re walking alongside Jesus—remembering His time in the desert and His journey to the cross. Lent isn’t about proving anything to God, it’s about letting His grace reshape us from the inside out. It’s a season that challenges us, changes us, and points us to the incredible hope we’ll celebrate on Easter morning—with renewed faith and a heart wide open to His love.
Why Lent Matters for Every Christian
Whether you come from the Roman Catholic tradition, attend Protestant churches, or are simply curious about the season, Lent is a powerful part of the Christian faith. An Ash Wednesday service marks the beginning of this holy day journey, reminding us of both our need for grace and the hope we have in Christ. As we enter into the Lenten fast—whether through giving something up, adding a new practice, or both—we join with believers across generations who have used this season to grow closer to God and prepare their hearts for Easter.
