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Jesus said: “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”(Matthew 6:16-18).
Our Gospel lesson for tonight is the traditional Ash Wednesday reading about alms – or increased giving, fasting and prayer. Tonight’s lesson is a good one as Jesus warns us not to make a show of our piety “as the hypocrites do.”
But one can wonder, what is the meaning behind those ashes on our foreheads? Could those ashes on our foreheads be “practicing [our] righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them”? (Matthew 6:1).
And later Jesus says in our reading, “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6:17).
So, what are we doing with these ashes on our foreheads?
Well, there is a difference between private piety and public piety. Christians do not observe Ash Wednesday individually, but corporately with the public Ash Wednesday Divine Service. So, when we are here in this public space with ashes marked on our foreheads, this practice is much bigger than just someone’s individual piety.
Likewise, when Jesus says, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so they may be seen by others. … But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:5, 6).
Now, keep this in mind, here Jesus is talking about individual prayer, not corporate, liturgical prayer. So, it would be certainly weird if I would just step away from the chancel and go into the sacristy during the Prayer of the Church so that nobody could hear my prayers.
Certainly, I can pray individually for my flock – for which I do, but this would be rather weird during the corporate Divine Service.
The same goes with ashes. If I put ashes only upon myself that would be weird. But if we all put on ashes, this would be a congregational activity.
But do the ashes mean that we are all fasting? That answer is no. The ashes are a mark of death upon us. It shows that we are all a dying people. And they are in the shape of the cross, because although we are dying, we are still redeemed in Christ, the crucified. So, those ashes on our foreheads are no different from wearing a crucifix or cross necklace in public. Or, wearing a shirt that proclaims that you are a Christian.
For us on this Ash Wednesday, those ashes are not declaring to people that we are bragging, like the hypocrites that Jesus is referring. Again, those ashes are really a mark of death upon you, but again, those ashes are in the shape of the cross to show that you are redeemed and that you have life despite of sin and death.
Those ashes in the shape of the cross upon your forehead represent your only hope: your only hope as one redeemed by Christ, the crucified.
As we begin Lent, we are conditioned to set aside this season for self-examination and assessment. We use this season to focus upon repentance.
But all too often, our repentance is seldom pure. Our intentions may be sincere, but our piety is seldom pure. At some level, we usually repent with the idea in mind that we may receive some reward.
For in at least a part of us, in our repentance, we are not really sorry that we sinned. But we still repent because we fear the consequences before a just and righteous God. For so much of the time, we are like the boy who is caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. He is sorry. But he isn’t sorry for stealing the cookie. He’s only sorry that he got caught.
This is the life of a sinner. The truth is that sin is double-mindedness, distorted devotion, and self-concern. And we can’t change that. We can’t overcome who we are by ourselves. We are self-centered, self-serving people. Even our repentance is tinged with concern for our own advantage.
We cannot save ourselves.
But here we are with those ashes on our foreheads in the form of Christ’s cross. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). Those ashes are the mark of death. But they are so much more than that. They also represent our only hope. By faith in Christ, God the Father will not judge you as you deserve, but He sees you as His beloved child, one who has been redeemed by Christ, the crucified, who by His blood has won forgiveness, life and salvation for you.
Now that we have God’s grace, I will challenge you with something. Instead of giving up something, if you do that, why not add something beneficial during this Lenten season? Why not study the catechism? And you are in luck this Lenten season as for our upcoming midweeks, we will consider the Table of Duties from Luther’s Small Catechism. Or you could set aside time for prayer, Bible study, devotion, or singing hymns. And we do this not to earn any favor from God, but to grow in the one true Christian faith.
Our only hope is in Jesus, whose cross is marked on our foreheads. May our deeds reflect Christ’s mercy and His glory. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +
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