Where Is Their God?

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:12-18

2 Cor 5:20-6:2

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

The prophet Joel says today, “Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

I think that perhaps sometimes God says, “Where are my people?”

We see fewer and fewer signs of religion in our society today. The secularization of society is pushing us more and more into the churches and out of the public square as we are discouraged or even forbidden to declare our faith. It goes beyond removing the ten commandments from government buildings, or not being allowed to wear crucifixes or have a bible out on our desks at work for fear of offending someone. People of faith are being pushed and shoved onto the fringes, their message shrugged off as fanaticism.

But once a year, at least, we push back and break out. Once a year we wear our faith on our foreheads.

I think it’s interesting the crowds we get on Ash Wednesday. Many Catholics -- present company excluded, of course -- don’t go to Mass on Sundays, or Christmas or Easter, but they do come to Ash Wednesday services. For one day, at least, we come to declare who we are and what we believe in.

We walk around all day with this dirt on our foreheads. We get people all day telling us “There’s a smudge on your forehead”, and we’re forced to tell them over and over again that no, we’re Catholics, and they’re ashes, not dirt. Sometimes we say it proudly, sort of like wearing that little button on election day, “I Voted”. And sometimes we respond sheepishly, almost like we forgot they were on there.

Will you wear your ashes all day (evening) or will you go home and wash them off? To be honest, I’ve done that myself sometimes. It’s tough to see the look in people’s eyes when you tell them that, no, it’s not a smudge, I’m Catholic and today is Ash Wednesday. They get all fidgety and often change the subject. Or they belittle the practice, saying something like “Oh, that.” Or, saddest of all, they say, “Oh, that’s today? I’m Catholic, too, and I forgot.”

St. Paul declares that we are ambassadors for Christ. We speak in his name and represent him here on earth. When people see us, they’re supposed to see Jesus. Ambassadors speak with authority for the persons they represent. But unlike political ambassadors, whose symbols of power are beautiful embassies and stretch limousines, our symbol is a little smudged cross, and our credentials are the gospel.

The practice of covering oneself in ashes goes back beyond recorded time. It appears many times in the Bible, too. Whenever they were unfaithful to God’s commandments, the ancient Jews would wear sackcloth and cover themselves in ashes as a sign of repentance, especially after some prophet had foretold that God would destroy them if they didn’t.

The threat of destruction is a strong motivation to reform your life.

The early Christians would also wear ashes and special clothing as part of their penance for serious sins. They would not be allowed into the place of worship, but had to sit outside the door and listen in. Their clothing and the ashes told the community that this person was serious about repenting. They wanted really badly to come back inside.

Wanting to be included is a strong motivation to reform your life.

So why will you wear your ashes today? I asked a young girl once why she liked getting ashes, and all she said was “they’re cool”, and ran off to play. Is that how you see them, as something special that sets you apart? Are they cool? Or will they remind you throughout the day of who you are? Will they be a motivation to take this Lent seriously? Not just giving up stuff but taking serious steps to reform the things in your life you’re not too proud of?

Non-Catholics have seen a lot of negative stuff about the church the past couple of years. Today they will see you and your simple symbol declaring your faith. What will they see in your eyes today? Will they see Christ reflected in your face?

Will the little smudge remain long after it is washed off?