Four Religious Days This Week

 This year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 18. Observed by many Western churches as the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday is 40 days (minus the Sundays) before Easter, reflecting the 40 days of Jesus' fast in the wilderness, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. The imposition of ashes--the burned remains of palm branches of the previous year's Palm Sunday--reflect the following biblical passages. "[T]hen the Lord God formed [the human] from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). "All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again" (Ecclesiastes 3:20). There is a pun in the Hebrew language: "adam" means “human", and "adamah" means "soil". By reminding us of our mortality and connection to the earth, we are called to reflect upon and seek renewal of our relationship with God, who has given us physical life and promises eternal life.

The month of Ramadan begins today (depending on the sighting of the crescent moon) and lasts until March 19. Prayers for Muslim friends during this month and all year! As this says, Muslims fast from food and drink from pre-dawn to sunset. "The ultimate goal of fasting is gaining greater God-consciousness, known in Arabic as taqwa, signifying a state of constant awareness of God. From this awareness, a person should gain discipline, self-restraint, and a greater incentive to do good and avoid wrong. In commemoration of the revelation the Qur’an, which began in the month of Ramadan, Muslims attempt to read the entire book during Ramadan. The entire Qur’an is also recited during special nightly prayers." https://ing.org/resources/for-all-groups/calendar-of-important-islamic-dates/ramadan-information-sheet/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQCy19leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEegV9-1fn925w-_OVdqJ1JYWrr4liaOTWe2jm4uKXV7IeIoJno_WeniGbfwXE_aem_m2jyf7QBbAJAejGvJcdsRg

The Lunar New Year began on February 17th!  https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cgqg0pwkq2kt?fbclid=IwY2xjawQCy5lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeJxOnYQn1OQrtudoVzXmh4UQ1bejIOvokD4M2DTYkOle9WlKI_-_unAJkenk_aem_O3kqshnGCdHPFyfDqOQaPg It's very uncommon for Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Ramadan, and the Lunar New Year to happen about the same time like this. 

In Judaism, February 17 was Rosh Chodesh Adar, the beginning of the month of Adar that contains the joyous holiday Purim, brightening the whole lunar month with joy.