Ash Wednesday Reminds Christians Of Mortal Nature Of Human Race-Father Theodore Peter

A Priest of the Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Fr Theodore Peter has explained that Ash Wednesday reminds Christians of the mortal nature of the human race.

Peter, who was speaking during an interview with THE WHISTLER, stated that the Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of the Lenten Season, also reminds Christian of the need to repent and accept the good news of Christ’s salvific action of His passion, death and resurrection.

“For some people who are not Christians or even non Catholics today, Ash Wednesday is like any other Wednesday. However for us who are Catholics, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season, a time to be reminded specially of the mortal nature of the human race and the need to repent and accept the good news of Christ’s salvific action of his passion, death and resurrection,” he said.

Explaining the symbol of the ash placed on the foreheads of Christians during Ash Wednesday, Peter, a student of Veritas University, Abuja, said, “Obviously we both know that ash is obtained after burning palms from the previous year’s palm Sunday.

“During this process of burning, the dry palm fronts underwent a process of irreversible conversion. You can now visualise the fact that conversion in the life of a Christian entails repentance.

“In the same process of conversion, something dies in order to bring out a new thing. Dying clearly talks about mortality, which would later lead to immortality.”

Speaking on the significance of Ash Wednesday being celebrated the same day as Valentine Day this year, Peter stated that it exposes the grand design of how lent should be seen in general.

“There can be no valentine without lent; no love without sacrifice. Most importantly, we are saved because of love, and every love story they say is God’s story,” he said.

THE WHISTLER also interviewed some Christians on what Ash Wednesday means to them.

For Anthony Malik, “It’s a time for deep reflections about life and living. It is a time for reevaluation of whether one is living a true Christian life. If not, there is a need to change. If you’re living a good Christian faith, one needs to strengthen it further.”

Collins Nnabuife said, “Ash Wednesday is a day we are reminded that life is vanity, and we should make use of every time we have to do good. Ash Wednesday reminds us that we came from dust, and from dust, we shall go. It is a time of sober reflection on the life we have lived. Coinciding with the Feast of St. Valentine avails us the opportunity to share love with one another, especially the needy. By doing that, you are also making peace with God.”

According to Henry Tyohemba, “Lent represents a period of reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual renewal. Although it coincides with Valentine’s Day, I see them as separate observances, with Lent focusing on personal spiritual growth while Valentine emphasizes more on the relationships and appreciation for loved ones.”

Amarachi Esomonu said, “It means the beginning of Lent. As Catholics, we put ash on our forehead, which signifies that from ash we come and from ash, we will return. The Ash we rub on our forehead denotes that we have entered into the morning season, which is lent. This period, Catholics fast, pray, and do alms giving. It is mandatory that Catholics fast and avoid eating any flesh that brings out blood. Fasting, however, depends on one’s capability. It is also a period of sober reflection in which we seek mercy and forgiveness of sins.”