It turns out that Ash Wednesday has inspired some of our favorite posts over the years–a bit ironic/hypocritical, given that the day doesn’t exactly encourage human pride. Nevertheless, in the spirit of Christian freedom, here’s a compilation of sorts to kick-start our observance of Lent together. Updated Ash Wednesday, 2020.

Anonymous posts, wrestling with the link between Ash Wednesday and the lack of rest:

• Sleeping on Mortality: An Ash Wednesday Reflection
• God Bless the Insomniacs: Searching for Rest on Ash Wednesday
• Possibly Insane Thoughts on Ash Wednesday (Written on the Occasion of a Sleepless Night)

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:1)

Reflecting on Ash Wednesday itself:

• A Sermon for Ash Wednesday
• What Would Jesus Do for Lent
• Why Ash Wednesday is Nadia Bolz Weber’s favorite day in the church year
• Burning Palm Sunday: An Ash Wednesday Reflection
• From the Magazine: Dying to Live
• Have a Token Lent (And Other Suggestions from a Weary Jesuit)

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matt. 6:16-18)

Ash Wednesday and Culture:

• Ash Wednesday – Elvis Perkins
• Burnt Norton, the Four Quartets, and Ash Wednesday – T.S. Eliot
• Law and Gospel (and Lent) according to Chocolat
• Bringing You The Gospel (Pt. 42) #AshTag
• The Ash Wednesday Mortality Bus – Zoltan Istvan and the Transhumanists

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. (1 Cor 9:22)

Ash Wednesday sermons:

• Ash Everyday – Jady Koch
• Scarlet Letter – David Zahl
• What’s With All the Ashes? – Jason Michelli (text)

COMMENTS

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