An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I just returned home from Ash Wednesday matins at my Lutheran congregation. The children of our day school were also in attendance. We read from Jonah about how the people of Ninevah repented, fasted for 40 days, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. God saw their repentance and how they turned away from evil and showed the city mercy.
During the sermon, our pastor told us that the ashes that are imposed on our foreheads this day are not a mark of piety so much as our mortality. They are a call to repent and, as they are imposed in the shape of a cross, also a hopeful reminder of our salvation.
As I sat there, I was thinking of tonight's debate and what I would do if I were to be asked to do something public on Ash Wednesday, an important Christian day that includes such an ugly, if hopeful, marking on my forehead.
The only thing that ever came close was that the American Enterprise Institute once held its annual formal dinner on Ash Wednesday. I went wearing a ball gown and ashes. It seemed inappropriate but I wasn't sure which part of it was inappropriate.
In any case, I'm curious what you all think. If you were to be asked to do something public on a day when your sinfulness, mortality and faith were on such shocking display, what would you do? Would you wash it off? Would you keep it on? Would you worry about how it comes off?
And while I'm sure that many people are curious whether Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich will show up with ashes, or one or the other, I'm also curious if we'll see any media so arrayed.
At the very least, I wonder if the media thought through whether a debate should be held on this day.
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Comments:
Mar '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I also thought about giving up online media but then I wasn't sure what I would do at work all day.
Jun '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Robert Promm: Christopher,
As to a separation of law and grace, NT from OT, I only point to a complete reading of Hebrews 10. · 16 minutes ago
Robert,
I make a distinction between the texts commonly called Old or New Testament, and the testaments/covenants themselves. I think there's lots of gospel in the Hebrew Scriptures, and lots of law in the Greek.
But if I can take another stab at how we view ashes, at least in my church, that might be helpful for you understanding our approach: It's not an obedience to some sort of commandment. Rather, recognizing that all men from every generation must repent, we have adopted a Biblical sign of repentance that is also a reminder of our mortality. It's not a work that we do to fulfill the law, but a reminder that we need the grace found only in Christ. And it's totally optional among us. (Although whenever I've done the imposition of ashes before the sermon, I've always had people who abstained come asking for ashes after the service, telling me that once they understood the meaning, they wanted to identify with that. FWIW.)
Jan '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
This is exactly the kind of enlightening, polite dialogue that makes Ricochet such a wonderful place to visit.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
LowcountryJoe
Do you repect Muslim women for the visual announcement (Hijab) of their faith?
I respect public displays of healthy faith. When Muslims stop work to pray, I admire that. When a person dresses modestly but comfortably so not to exaggerate common temptations, I respect that. When a woman hides her face for fear, shame or a debased view of male willpower, that I abhor.
Cultures, like individual persons, are all flawed. But some are on a better course than others. And mercy does not preclude criticism. It is as foolish to be uncritical of wrongdoing or wrong thinking that is bound to a culture as it is foolish to be critical of poor action and thinking that is bound to a personality. Criticism does not dishonor free will.
As for collars and habits, MFR is right that they are uniforms. Christians once commonly understood themselves as "soldiers of Christ." Symbols of devotion can be as meek as a wedding ring. But the clergy are called to be leaders. Leaders should be seen.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
If I were in Santorum's place, I would definitely wash off the ashes—not because I'm ashamed of my faith, but because my faith should not be in the forefront of attention in a major debate for public office. Plus, they can be very distracting and awkward for others trying to listen to what I'm saying.
Like etoiledunord said, it's not a sin to wash them off. Not that I've ever heard anyway.
Or, if I really didn't want to wash them off, I would find a priest to say Mass for me and my family after the debate.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Ashes as a symbol of our mortality have meaning beyond repentance. The ash reminds us that we are "in the world but not of the world." It reminds us that material gains, as well as other earthly gains like fame, are fleeting and ultimately unimportant.
When God saved the Jews with "mana" from Heaven, He demonstrated that gifts of the earth are merely the mechanisms through which God shares His grace. We don't need food. We need nourishment. "One does not live by bread alone...." The ashes remind us to focus not on the means but on the Source of all goodness. All that we know will pass away. The world is beautiful, but like butterflies we will one day be reborn and fly away.
Christopher Esget
By applying that to all her members, the church is saying that we all need to be repentant.
Olympians can jump much farther than the average Joe, and Joe is rightly amazed. But if challenged to jump across the ocean, the Olympian is no more able. Likewise, we are rightfully impressed by saintly living, but saints are no less dependent upon God's mercy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Ashes, all.
Apr '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
I think that is giving up too much to the aggressive forces of secularism. The press goes on as though Christmas Mass or being marked with ashes is extraordinary, reporting on religion as they do like Margaret Meade in Samoa or Jane Goodall in Gombe.
The practice of one's religion should be as natural and relaxed as breathing in and out, neither predominating in nor excluded from the public square. Similarly, the important stuff in my marriage takes places in private, but I do wear a wedding band, have little grendels, and file a joint tax return.
I can't say what Santorum and Gingrich should do, but the criterion is not "what is appropriate for civic ceremony", but does it make him feel uncomfortable, like wearing a Miraculous Medal in the sauna.
Dec '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Mollie,
This is what Orthodox Jews face every Saturday when they don't drive or answer phones for 25hrs. I was refused employment once because I was wearing my kippe (yamulka) and said that I would wear it to work. I can not tell you how many comments in the work place that I have received that cross the line and could be considered harrassment.
I can tell you other stories of how many times individuals have either helped me or commented favourably to me or have just smiled that smile that says I'm glad you are on Gd's team.
This society is being run by agnostics that have completely discounted any value on Religion. We face an uphill struggle.
But Mollie, there are some struggles worth fighting. Whether today we win or lose some grand political struggle, just by trying to bring Gd into the world a little we've won what's most important. We made the world a little better today and we brought peace and contentment to our own soul.
Regards,
Jim
Jun '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
James Gawron: Mollie,
I can not tell you how many comments in the work place that I have received that cross the line and could be considered harrassment.
I can tell you other stories of how many times individuals have either helped me or commented favourably to me or have just smiled that smile that says I'm glad you are on Gd's team.
I feel something similar wearing a clerical collar out into society: a strange mixture of hatred and curse words alongside very friendly smiles and the occasional free pass out of the hospital parking garage.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Grendel
I think that is giving up too much to the aggressive forces of secularism. The press goes on as though Christmas Mass or being marked with ashes is extraordinary, reporting on religion as they do like Margaret Meade in Samoa or Jane Goodall in Gombe.
The practice of one's religion should be as natural and relaxed as breathing in and out, neither predominating in nor excluded from the public square. Similarly, the important stuff in my marriage takes places in private, but I do wear a wedding band, have little grendels, and file a joint tax return.
I can't say what Santorum and Gingrich should do, but the criterion is not "what is appropriate for civic ceremony"
Since it's not required (unless I'm wrong about that), then such a consideration seems perfectly valid to me.
Apr '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Hear, hear. I knew that the text of the Mass is full of allusions and quotations from the OT, but our parish's Bible study group recently completed a program based on A Biblical Walk Through the Mass. It confirmed the impression from earlier studies that Catholicism is deeply rooted in the OT.
Jun '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
katievs:
Like etoiledunord said, it's not a sin to wash them off. Not that I've ever heard anyway.
Since it's optional to receive them in the first place, I'd assume it's entirely up to you to decide how long to wear them.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
A part of me agrees with Gus:
A part of me agrees with Jesus when He said, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. .... But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Paul said, "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."
And Jesus again, "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
In other words, in my view, it isn't a big deal either way.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Tom Lindholtz: A part of me agrees with Gus:
Except that there is no rule saying Catholics have to wear ashes all day on Ash Wednesday.
There is a rule say we have to fast and abstain from meat.
Apr '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
katievs
Grendel
I think that is giving up too much to the aggressive forces of secularism. ...
I can't say what Santorum and Gingrich should do, but the criterion is not "what is appropriate for civic ceremony"
Since it's not required (unless I'm wrong about that), then such a consideration seems perfectly valid to me. · 2 hours ago
There is nothing wrong per se in washing off the ashes, even if you do it to avoid identification as a religious person. My argument was
That's why I said "what is appropriate for civic ceremony" is not the right criterion. Since religious expression is appropriate within the civic space, I would not like to think someone acted on the grounds that it is not. Other practical and prudential consideration might lead one to wash his face; I have no problem with that.
Jun '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Tom Lindholtz:
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. .... But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
That was the Gospel at Mass this morning! But you skipped a key passage: "Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward."
The key point I think Jesus made is not the merits of secrecy but of sincerity, praying (and in the surrounding passages almsgiving and fasting) for the right reasons.
If a politician decided to wear ashes to a debate because his advisors thought it would help him win more votes, he would already have his reward. If he does it out of sincere repentance, perhaps even fearing it might cost him votes, then God will reward him.
And since only God will know the true intentions of any of the candidates tonight I agree with your ultimate conclusion: it's not a big deal either way.
May '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Grendel
There is nothing wrong per se in washing off the ashes, even if you do it to avoid identification as a religious person. My argument was
That's why I said "what is appropriate for civic ceremony" is not the right criterion. Since religious expression is appropriate within the civic space, I would not like to think someone acted on the grounds that it is not. Other practical and prudential consideration might lead one to wash his face; I have no problem with that. · 1 hour ago
About the pushing back, the when and where and how is a question of prudence.
If I were in Santorum's position, I would judge this the wrong moment.
Apr '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Katievs: I think we agree in principle, but not on tactics. I guess that is why you like Santorum and I like Gingrich.
Look out, look out. The observers are watching.
Santorum to attend Ash Wednesday services, Gingrich to skip
Apr '11
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
From an outsiders perspective this is indeed a fascinating conversation (I'm something of a casual Jew, but with an odd assortment of spiritual views, if that makes any sense)
All I can add is that "Ball Gown and Ashes" would make a fantastic album title (or a pretentious indie band name).
Oct '10
Re: An Ash Wednesday Debate?
Moot, or soot?