Scripture: Matthew 6:18 – “…so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (NRSVue)
Today is Ash Wednesday, and here in Massachusetts, you are likely to see a lot of people with ashes on their foreheads. In my experience, most of these people are Catholics. Many Protestants have Ash Wednesday services in the evening, if at all.
One reason for this is the Protestant work ethic which can put work before ritual observances. Another is the famous passage from the Gospel According to Matthew which speaks about fasting in secret. Thus, Ash Wednesday can take place in the evening, after work, so that only you, your family, and your congregation can see the ashes on your forehead.
Fasting and anointing oneself with ashes were common forms of penitence in the ancient world. There were ways to show grief or remorse to God and to others. Some prophets, however, saw such fasts as performative. For example, the Book of Isaiah says, “Is not this the fast that I choose… to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house…”
Jesus agreed that many fasts were performative, calling out the hypocrites who made a big deal about how miserable and holy they were. Instead, he taught that the one fasting should be clean and happy without ashes. Your fast should be secret, and God who sees in secret will reward you.
There is great wisdom in just getting the job done without bragging; the work is its own reward. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, where we traditionally fast on certain days, avoid meat on Fridays, or otherwise give up something unessential that we are accustomed to. Fasting is good because it tells your body that faith is more important than food. And once you push past that initial feeling of hunger, you can become more mentally aware of the blessings around you.
However, one downside of keeping your fasting a secret is that there is no public accountability. It can be easy to sneak a chocolate here or there when no one is looking. Some Protestants do not keep a fast or give up things for Lent, preferring to focus on the spiritual aspects of repentance and preparation. But when we keep secrets from the world, we sometimes keep them from ourselves. We can tell ourselves we are doing the right things in secret, but these words or ideas can also be performative without actually accomplishing anything.
So, as you begin your Lenten journey, make sure to make a confession to God today, whether in a worship service or at home. Make this a true examination of your sins and then choose a fast that helps you avoid committing them in the future. Keep a fast that may be a secret to the world but is never a secret to yourself. And God will reward you by opening your heart to new possibilities for justice and peace.
Prayer: Lord, I am dust, and to dust I shall return. Hear my confession, cleanse my sin, forgive my trespasses, and bring me ever into accordance with your will. Amen.
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