Ash Wednesday

Nails, bread and ashes

started Lent 2012.

Repent, and walk on…

Ashes

Day 1: not in front of others?

not in front of others?

Matthew 6:1 talks about “not doing ‘acts of righteousness’ in front of others… to be seen by them.”
Ironically, Ash Wednesday’s tradition is the imposition of ashes… a very public display of one’s faith. How does one reconcile this? And just how does one define ‘acts of righteousness’ in this case? how does ‘to be seen by them’ play into this?

What are the motivations behind our traditions and faith practices?