Symbols that Point

Armodoxy for Today: Symbols that Point

Lent Day 4

The first Wednesday of Lent in the Eastern Tradition is known as Sad or Sorrowful Wednesday. In the Western Tradition it is known as Ash Wednesday. There is no special designation to the first Wednesday of Lent in the Armenian Church tradition.

Each community of believers have unique sets of traditions and activities that help them focus on the essentials of their Faith. When entering an Armenian church, it is hard not to notice the candles that are lit by the faithful in different niches provided throughout the building. The candle, in itself, is a pointer to something greater. We call these symbols. They point to something that is unexplainable.

God said, “Let there be Light” on the first day of Creation according to the Genesis story. How do you understand light when according to the same story, the Sun and stars were not created until a few days later? Jesus says, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)  In lighting a candle at church, we are invited to meditate and contemplate these ideas. The candle reminds us that as long as there is light at its tip, there is no darkness. So too, Christ brings Light – the eternal Light – to the darkest places in life.

Ashes are there as a pointer to one of the basic theme of Lent, namely, that this life is much more than the physical. As God tells Adam, “for dust you are and to dust you shall return,” the ashes remind us that our origin as humanity is from the earth and the inevitability of death.

Symbols are used by various traditions to help us focus on thoughts and concepts that are bigger than us.

Our prayer today is a simple one from Psalms, Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. (141:2)