The Wikipedia entry I linked shows the biblical
heritage of the ritual, citing Job, Jeremiah, Daniel, First Book of Maccabees, Numbers,
and Jonah for citations of the use of ashes in the Old Testament, Matthew and
Luke in the New Testament. It also cites
Ezekiel chapter 9 for the marking of sinner’s foreheads for repentance, without any mention of ashes. But Wikipedia does not mention any citation from the
Book of Judith.
I’ve recently been reading the Book of Judith as
part of my working through the bible and low and behold I read chapter 4
shortly before Ash Wednesday. Let me set
the context. The troops of King Nebuchadnezzar of the Assyrians have captured and slaughtered all
of Israel’s neighbors and now have directed their attention to them. The Israelites are preparing for the
invasion.
10They, along with their wives,
and children, and domestic animals, every resident alien, hired worker, and
purchased slave, girded themselves with sackcloth.
11And all the Israelite men,
women, and children who lived in Jerusalem fell prostrate in front of the
temple and sprinkled ashes
on their heads, spreading out their sackcloth before the Lord.
12The altar, too, they draped
in sackcloth; and
with one accord they cried out fervently to the God of Israel not to allow
their children to be seized, their wives to be taken captive, the cities of
their inheritance to be ruined, or the sanctuary to be profaned and mocked for
the nations to gloat over.
13The Lord heard their cry and saw their distress.
The people continued fasting for many days throughout Judea and before the
sanctuary of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem.
14Also girded with sackcloth,
Joakim, the high priest, and all the priests in attendance before the Lord, and
those who ministered to the Lord offered the daily burnt offering, the votive
offerings, and the voluntary offerings of the people.
15With ashes upon their
turbans, they cried to the Lord with all their strength to look with favor on
the whole house of Israel.
-Jth
4:9-15
I was surprised when I read that passage. I didn’t recall anyone ever alluding to the
Book of Judith for the history behind Ash Wednesday, but there it is. And what’s startling, is that in this passage
they actually mention the sprinkling of ashes on foreheads (verse 11). Of all the other passages, I think only the
First Book of Maccabees references ashes and forehead together. So the Book of Judith might actually be one of
two of the clearest references to the Ash Wednesday ritual in the entire
bible. They will have to update that
Wikipedia entry. :)
I love Ash Wednesday and I hope I can get to a mass
to receive ashes. It looks like I will
be traveling out of town for work and not sure what my schedule will be
like. I’m looking forward to Lent. It has replaced the overly commercialized Advent/Christmas
season as my favorite time of year. I
know we fast and pray and struggle during the Lenten season, but when you love
God fasting, praying, and struggling is sweetness.
May God bless you all on this holy day.
I agree, Manny, that Lent is sweet. His yoke is easy and His burden light! He pours out grace upon grace during this season. My first several Lents as a convert were like walking on clouds. I don't really even mind the fasting. My poor husband is having a medical test tomorrow that requires complete fasting all day today. I keep telling him his Ash Wednesday is going to very particularly ashy. For me, it frees me from a lot of food preparation and I can start my Lenten reading in earnest. I also am going to listen to Fr. Z's daily Lentcasts.
ReplyDeleteHope you and all your readers have a blessed and holy Lent!