"There's something on your face, bro,"

Posted by Greg

I feel that Ash Wednesday may be one of the most difficult days in the liturgical calendar, especially if you attend Mass prior to your workday. For a couple of years, I’ve actually asked for the day off, just so I wouldn’t have to deal with the questions. Let me preface this by explaining my job. I am the shipping and receiving wizard at a machine shop in which no one, other than myself, is a practicing Catholic. That, coupled with the attitudes and demeanor that exist in a machine shop make it a difficult place to witness.  Let’s just say that the conversations are, ironically so, not safe for work.

Enter: Ash Wednesday.

This year I decided that I wasn’t going to let myself shy away from visibly expressing the invisible truth all day at work. What makes this so difficult is to do this with humility. I don’t want to keep my head down to avoid notice, but I don’t want to walk around acting proud of the fact that I wear my ashes in public(even though I kind of am). 

I am reminded of today’s Gospel reading:

mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

So don’t be a hypocrite. This is hardest part. I’m wearing ashes, but I don’t want to necessarily bring attention to myself and say “Look at me! I’m Catholic! I’m fasting! I’m so much cooler than all of you losers!” 

I just blog about it.

But seriously, though, I believe that God wants us to fast and wear our ashes for the world to see, the more trying task is being humble while you do it. Try to be knowledgeable of our traditions and why we practice them. You never know. You may just plant the seeds of conversion with your witness while you’re starving and covered in soot.

Oh, and here’s an explanation for why we get ashed:

http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/why-do-catholics-practice-fasting-and-abstinence-during-lent

-Greg