Reformation Monday: Ash Wednesday

Why exactly do we allow someone to draw a cross with ashes on our forehead?

For a long time, Lutherans eschewed the practice of ashes on the first Wednesday of Lent.  There are several reasons.  During the years of Lutheran history when we defined ourselves as 'not Catholic' Lutherans chose not to include this portion of the Ash Wednesday ritual. When the Lutheran church underwent a liturgical renewal in the 80's, many of the ancient practices were re-introduced into our communities. One of these practices was the Imposition of Ashes.

Some interpret the practice of ashes as contradicting the biblical inference that any showy practice of piety was not really acceptable.  See Matthew 6.16 "whenever you fast, do not look dismal......" These kinds of practices should be done in secret, for our God, who sees in secret knows and sees your faithfulness.

Of course, like many things in the church, practice and biblical interpretation shifts as time passes and contexts change.  Ashes on Ash Wednesday are a tactile and visual reminder of the core message of that day "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return."  Our mortality is front and center when ashes are smeared on our foreheads.

The challenge with any practice, whether it be imposition of ashes, or fasting meat on Fridays can take on meanings that are more superstitious than faithful worship.  Whether your forehead is smeared or as 'clean as a whistle', God loves you; Jesus' death is salvation for you and the Holy Spirit is active in your life.  The ashes are a reminder but they are more than just a post-it note on the refrigerator.  These ashes recall the breadth of God's story from the creation of humans in Genesis 2 to the reality of death faced by our Lord Jesus.  We are reminded in a serious way that we came from nothing more than dust and one day, our bodies will return to nothing but dust again.

My grasp of Reformation history is not sufficient to know if ashes were a common practice during the time of Martin Luther.  Remember, he was a Roman Catholic priest and would have followed the established rituals of his time (until and unless he thought them through and decided to reject them.  You can count on Luther for either reaction.) Later reformers, such as John Calvin, would have found ashes showy and therefore unfaithful because they distracted one from pure worship of God.

How do the ashes ground you?  How do they help you renew your relationship with Jesus?  In what way do they start your Lent, and where do they take you?

T
o me, these are the more important questions.  Have a blessed Lent.