Homily on Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (Ash Wednesday)
Originally given 14 February 2024 at St. Alban’s Church, Coventry
The other day I saw a meme that said for Ash Wednesday we rub dirt on people’s faces and tell them they’re going to die. I laughed when I saw it, because it is kind of true. When I put ashes on your forehead in a few moments, I will say ‘remember you are dust and to dust you shall return’, but that’s only half the story. How confusing this day must be for anyone who sees it out of context.
If we were to take today’s Gospel reading out of context, then the imposition of ashes in a few moments would be contradictory to Christ’s instructions, and we would in fact be hypocrites because we are not fasting and praying in secret. Walking around with a cross of ashes on our face is a very public declaration of our faith. But within the context of the whole gospel message, I don’t think that this passage is explicitly referring to one’s actions, but instead one’s priorities. It’s not what you do that matters as much as why you do it. In other words, why have we come to this service today to have dirt rubbed on our face and be told that we’re going to die? Is it because our priority is looking morally good for the world to see? Or is it because our priority is growing our relationship with God?
‘Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.’ That’s the rest of the story. Yes, we are all going to die, but the real story is about how we live. It’s about making a deliberate choice every day to store our treasures in heaven. A choice to turn to Christ in our thoughts, and words, and deeds. In recognising our mortality, we recognise that we were created for a purpose. But it is our choice about what that purpose is. Will we choose to live the way of hypocrites, prioritising what people on the outside see and gaining earthly goods? Or will we choose to live the way of Christ, taking up the challenge to show unconditional love to all people and gaining treasures in heaven?
To be clear, the choices we make shouldn’t be made with any rewards in mind. In order to completely love God and love our neighbour, our motives must not be about what we get from it. In fact, along with praying and fasting in secret, we could be encouraged to love in secret. To commit anonymous acts of kindness in all that we do. Not for any reward, but for our choice to turn towards Christ. Our choice to love radically and live fully until we once again are dust.
Turn away from sin, and be faithful to Christ. Choose each day to make God your priority. Choose to fully live until you die.
Reflections of a Christian 