Ash Wednesday
(Joel 2:12-18; II Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew
6:1-6.16-18)
For a number of
years now Protestants have taken up the custom of imposing ashes. Certainly not all Protestants, but those from
the mainline churches – Episcopalians, Methodists, and Lutherans – are not
unlikely to be seen wearing this Lenten sign.
There is no reason for Catholics to be jealous. It is, after all, a sign of sinfulness, which
is prevalent in the churched as well as the unchurched. But all who wear ashes need be concerned that
they are duly determined to change their sinful ways.
There is a story about a man who gave eulogies at
funerals. For a fee the eulogizer would make
up something nice to say about the dead.
At one funeral he said that a scoundrel was an honest man who treated everyone
fairly. The people reacted to what was
being said with indignation. But it was
not the lies that upset them, but that they admired the scoundrel for his wickedness! They did not want to think of him as having
reformed or, at one time of his life as acting virtuously. Wearing ashes today with no intention to move
from sinfulness to righteous ways is like admiring the scoundrel for his
wickedness.
By wearing ashes we promise to change our ways. They are not a sign that shows that we are
Catholics or even Christians. They are a
sign of shame like the student who brings home a report card with straight D’s. As the student will pledge to her parents
that she will make every effort to raise her grades next term so should we work
to expunge sins from our lives.
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