Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of penance and reflection. The imposition of ashes, a sacramental, serves as a reminder of our mortality and sinfulness, as seen in Genesis 3:19: "For you are dust, and to dust you shall return." This practice is not limited to those capable of personal sin; even children can receive ashes, as Joel 2:16 includes "children, even nursing infants" in communal penance. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus advises against fasting for show, emphasizing sincerity over appearance. Ashes symbolize genuine repentance, not hypocrisy. The tradition aligns with Jesus' expectation of fasting, as seen in Acts 13:2 and the Didache, which mentions fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays.