An Ash Wednesday Conundrum?
Wearing ashes in public versus Matthew 6
I’ve been a Catholic for over 25 years now, but I still periodically encounter new wrinkles.
Today, for example, as I was sitting in noon Mass at my parish awaiting the imposition of ashes, I was struck by the day’s Gospel reading from Matthew Chapter 6.
“When you fast,” as we do today, “wash your face.”
Although there is no rule on how long we’re supposed to wear the ashes, I know many Catholics who wear them all day. My practice has been to wait until bedtime to wash them.1
But how do I square that practice with Matthew 6?
As I reread Jesus’ commands in that passage, however, the answer became obvious. He is not speaking about all public displays of faith. Instead, in verse 1, he commands us to “take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.”
Hence, it is licit to wear the ashes as a public display of faith and repentance. The problem is when we wear them to impress people with how holy we are. “Look at me! I’m holier than thou!”
Indeed, one time I wore them at work after attending Mass I had a concerned student inform me that I had a smudge on my forehead.