Ash Wednesday Offers An Opportunity To Evangelize
By REY FLORES
Do you know why we receive ashes on Ash Wednesday? I asked that question this past week to some of my Catholic friends and thankfully most of them gave me a pretty good answer. One had no clue, but then again, this person, though Catholic, doesn’t pray the rosary every day.
One of my favorite aspects of every Ash Wednesday is trying to count how many ashes I’ll see on people’s foreheads throughout the day. It’s especially fun when you’re riding on public transportation or walking down the street in a busy downtown area in a big city.
Another thing I enjoyed immensely happened when I worked as a communications specialist in a very non-religious union office environment. I entered the office after going to Mass and getting my ashes.
One comment I overheard whispered behind my back went like this: “That is so weird the way those people mark themselves up like vampires!” It didn’t help that Fr. Fanelli at St. Thomas More in Chicago had put an extra-large cross on my forehead, covering my face almost down to between my eyes. But I wore my ashes proudly that day.
Several people on the elevated train gave me funny stares and puzzled looks. One woman pulled her small child closer to her as I walked by to get a seat. I was looking right back at several of them all wide-eyed, daring them to ask me why I had a huge cross on my face.
My absolute favorite part, however, is when we walk in public with our ashes on Ash Wednesday when we are literally shouting with passion to the world: “I am a Catholic and I belong to the greatest Church in the universe! To God be the glory!”
Ash Wednesday really is terrific that way. While it is a solemn day of penitence in the liturgical year and the beginning of Lent, there is a fire of joy and passion that is lit within our hearts that day. We don’t call Christ’s Passion “the Passion” for nothing.
This is our time to tell the world that Jesus Christ did indeed suffer greatly, was crucified and died for our sins. This is the time that when someone looks at you as you walk down the street with your ashes on your foreheads, you can simply say, “Jesus died for our sins.”
It may be just what that person needs to hear at that moment and we will have taught that person a little bit of what the ashes on our foreheads mean.
Do an online search where you’ll find that the simplest way to explain Ash Wednesday to non-Catholics goes like this: “Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he speaks the words: ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’
“Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.”
Let people know that during Lent we fast and pray as we look forward to Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but we must reach out to all of our brothers and sisters everywhere, people who have been deliberately removed from God for generations.
It is no accident that the Easter Bunny has literally replaced Jesus Christ when your average person at the shopping mall is asked what Easter is all about and doesn’t know.
If they don’t know what Easter really means, how in the world are they going to know what that ash cross on your forehead means on Ash Wednesday?
If you have people in your life who are either lapsed Catholics or people you are trying to bring to the fullness of our faith, ask them to join you for weekly stations of the cross. Teach them about our Lord’s Passion. I’ve known people who hadn’t entered into a church of any kind in years and were completely brought to tears simply by attending the stations of the cross.
Let the ashes remind us of our sins and of the penitence, fasting, sacrifice, and prayer we all must do. Go to Confession every week, pray your rosary daily, give up those favorite foods or drinks as a way to discipline yourself and remind yourself that God always comes first before anything or anyone else. Without Him we are nothing.
I know we’ve been allowed to only abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, but if at all possible, have your family abstain from meat all during Lent. It may be a chance to eat healthier and save a little money on your grocery budget.
Years ago because of this Lent practice, my wife and I started abstaining from meat every single Friday of the entire year. Now it’s no longer a big deal and the kids never complain about it. They now know that whether it’s Lent or not, we fast and we do not eat meat on any Friday.
Another thing about Lent: I want to thank all of those brother Knights of Columbus for organizing those terrific fish fry dinners during Lent. I have never left disappointed by any of the Knights’ fish fry dinners, no matter what part of the country I’ve been in. Keep up the good cooking, gentlemen!
Go to Mass this Ash Wednesday and wear your ashes proudly. Go and tell the world of our Lord Jesus!
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(Rey Flores is a Catholic writer and speaker. Contact Rey at reyfloresusa@gmail.com.)
