Day 1: Nowhere to Hide

When you have a big black cross on your forehead, it's hard to get away with anything in public.

You can't sit on a bench and drink a 40oz beer in a brown paper bag. It's hard to check out attractive women when they walk by. Smoking seems out of the question. Same for cursing someone out in the car when they cut you off, or gossiping out loud, or just being an all around jerk.

If you were berating an employee at McDonald's for getting your filet o' fish order wrong while forgetting that you are sporting a big, conspicuous ash-cross, most people would think to themselves, "what a hypocrite." And rightfully so. If you want to sin, you'd be better off wiping the soot off your face so you can fly under the radar and fit in with the world and not invite scandal. Christians are called to be different, to be set apart.

For one day a year, Christians who receive ashes at the beginning of Lent are a marked people. You can spot them out in a crowd--it couldn't be more obvious, at least on the surface. But are our actions on this day truly reflecting the light of Christ to others? Do they see us and remark, like Tertullian, "See how these Christians love one another!" It's a great opportunity to practice integrity and witnessing to the faith publicly. But we need to be aware of what we are called to as marked people.

When we are fasting, and cranky from hunger pangs, do we offer our minor hardship to the Lord  joyfully for the sake of souls and thank Him that we might share in his suffering? Or do we complain about it loudly, make it known to others? If so, we have received our reward.

Do we humbly acknowledge our sinfulness, that we are dust and to dust we will return? Or do we set ourselves apart to be noticed, to be special or some kind of religious VIP? If so, we have received our reward.

Do we smile, and take the opportunity to speak about the reason for our hope to the curious who ask? Or are we morose, sullen, and embarrassed? If so, we have received our reward.

Jesus has good advice for those who fast, pray, give alms, and don the marks of penance:

• -Do not look somber as the hypocrites do (Mt 6:16)
• -Annoint your head with oil and wash your face (Mt 6:17)
• -Don't make a show of giving to the poor in order to be seen, but do so quietly (Mt 6:3)
• -Pray sincerely, not wasting words (Mt 6:7)
• -Spend time in prayer in your room (Mt 6:6)

What an incredible opportunity to witness, to open a door to conversation, to spark curiosity about the living Lord during this season! But the potential to scandalize and invoke the rotten wafting of hypocrisy is there too, when we don't take the call to repentance seriously.

Do you wish to repent and believe in the Gospel? The invitation is open!

"To those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20)