Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.” And yet today is the day in which we all can tell who went to church and who didn’t as soon as we look at their face. It would seem that our Ash Wednesday ritual goes in direct opposition to what Christ is commanding.
But although some may see Ash Wednesday as an opportunity to feel righteous or holier-than-thou, there is nothing to boast about behind this celebration. We mark ourselves with ashes as a reminder of our ancestral sin, when the fire that dwelt within the human heart separated itself from God and ended up in chaos, suffering and death. With ashes we acknowledge that to this day, sin, suffering and death affect our lives.
This day marks the beginning of our Lenten journey. We will enter more fully into the mysteries of Jesus’ love for humanity. A love that burned so ardently within his heart that it led him to Calvary. May the ashes be a sign of our repentance and our desire for Christ’s love and healing.