Repent and Believe in the Gospel of Jesus - Ash Wednesday Reflection
By olivz2012
@olivz2012 (50)
Philippines
February 12, 2013 11:03pm CST
Today, February 13, 2013 the entire Catholic Church in the world celebrates Ash Wednesday. Everyone is asked to Repent and Believe in the Gospel as each forehead being crossed by the Priest, Deacon or lay minister with the ashes of the palm blessed in the last year Palm Sunday.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the new season of LENT in the Liturgical Calendar of the Catholic Church. This Lenten Season is 40 days of intense purification wherein every Christian is asked to confess their sin and indulge some penitential activities such as alms giving, abstinence and fasting.
Hope you be blessed by God as you prepare for this Lenten Season...May God bless us all!
1 response
@silvercryst340v3 (203)
• Philippines
14 Feb 13
Since you've posted this discussion and anyone can respond, I'll just give you some of my questions.
1. How do you exactly repent and believe in the Gospel?
2. The cross sign in the forehead is not Biblical. Why do you believe in this?
3. Ash Wednesday was not asked by anyone in the Bible neither by God to be observed. Should every members of the Catholic church participate in this?
4. You said that in the Lenten Season, every Christian is asked to confess his/her sin. To whom?
5. You also said "and indulge some penitential activities such as alms giving, abstinence and fasting." Are you saying that penitential activities are required in order for your sins to be forgiven?
@subterfuge54 (207)
• Philippines
14 Feb 13
Wow! So many questions there and it's pretty interesting.
1. You repent and believe in the Gospel when you follow the teachings there.
2. Doing the sign of the cross is our form of prayer.
3. Catholics are not forced to participate in this tradition. But in following Ash Wednesday we remind ourselves that we are from ashes and we will return to ashes. Therefore, we humble ourselves in front of God because He alone, in His greatness, is the one who created us.
4. Christians are asked to confess to God through His instruments, the priests.
5. These activities are not really a requirement in its purest sense because it is by God's grace that we are forgiven. These activities help us to be more sincere in our repentance and focus ourselves in the times of repenting.
This is my understanding of our faith though.
@silvercryst340v3 (203)
• Philippines
14 Feb 13
I was expecting olivz2012 to answer my questions but anyway since you took his place, let's have a discussion with each other. Of course others may join.
1. What teachings?
2. I mean why does the priest put a cross sign on the forehead? Is it also because its your form of prayer?
3. Are dusts and ashes the same?
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." -Genesis 3:19 (KJV)
You humble yourselves in front of God by participating the Ash Wednesday?
4 and 5. Can't I just go pray to God directly through Jesus Christ in order for Him to forgive me? Are the priests required?
