A reader asks, "How long are you required to wear the ashes? Can you shower and remove them at the day end? Thank you."
The ashes imposed on the forehead on Ash Wednesday are a sign of penitence and are for the person who receives them. There are differing thoughts as to whether you should remove them or not. I go back to the Gospel Reading for Ash Wednesday:
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever 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.
"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 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.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The question is, why are you keeping on or washing off the ashes?
If you keep them on as a reminder of your mortality, or if it will genuinely help you witness to others - fine.
If you keep them on so that everyone will know you've been to an Ash Wednesday service - not so good.
If you wash them off so that you will be "rewarded by your Father who sees in secret" - fine.
If you wash them off because they are embarrassing - not so good.
If you wash them off because a huge zit is starting to grow in the middle of your forehead - probably a good idea!
In this case, I think it has to do with intention and context. Does the symbol help or hinder your ability to observe a holy Lent?
David+
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I always say "If you're wearing these ashes on your forehead to show people how holy you are and that you went to church this morning, you should wipe them off as you leave the building, but if you wear them as a sign of repentance and penitence, then leave them on."
One Ash Wednesday, back when I was a Purchasing Agent, I came to work with ashes on my head. I was still enslaved to tobacco, and was outside having a smoke. A co-worker came up to me and said, "Dude, you have some toner or something on your head." I explained the concept of Ash Wednesday and the reason for wearing ashes. The next day, I was outside having a smoke and he came up, put his thumb in the ashtray, put ashes on his forehead and said, "Smokers' Thursday!"
Posted by: Padre Mickey | March 10, 2007 at 06:11 PM