Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor. 5:20-6:2; Mt. 6:1-6, 16-18
The spiritual practice of applying ashes on oneself as a sign of sincere repentance goes back thousands of years. Frequently in the days of the Old and the New Testament.
Job, after realizing the greatness of God and his own unworthiness, declares, "I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:6)
When Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh, the king proclaimed a fast, sat in ashes, and ordered the people to turn from their evil ways (Jonah 3:5-6).
After his sin with Bathsheba, David fasted, lay on the ground, and pleaded for God’s mercy (2 Samuel 12:16-17).
In Daniel 9:3, Daniel turned to the Lord in prayer with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, seeking God’s forgiveness.
In the early Church, those who committed grave sins underwent public penance. They wore sackcloth and were sprinkled with ashes before being reconciled on Maundy Thursday.
Church history tells us that the liturgical practice of applying ashes on one's forehead during the Lenten Season goes back as far as the eighth century. This practice became widespread by the 10th century as a sign of humility and penance. This was accompanied by different forms of fasting, prayer, sacrifices, charity towards others, etc... The writings of St. Leo, around 461 A.D., tell us that during the Lenten Season, he exhorted the faithful to abstain from certain food to fulfill with their fasts the Apostolic institution of forty days.
One of the most powerful modern examples of repentance is that of Chuck Colson, a former special counsel to President Nixon, involved in the Watergate scandal. Colson was known for his ruthlessness in politics, but after being convicted and sent to prison, he encountered Christ. He fell on his knees, repented deeply, and turned his life around. After his release, he dedicated his life to prison ministry, serving those he once ignored. His life transformation is an example of true repentance—turning away from sin and walking in God’s ways.
Jesus warns against hypocritical displays of piety (Matthew 6:1-6). True repentance is not just about attending Ash Wednesday services but about inner transformation.
Like the people of Nineveh, we must turn away from whatever keeps us from God. Isaiah 58 reminds us that fasting should lead to helping the poor, freeing the oppressed, and living justly. So, Lent is a time to examine our hearts, confess our sins, and make real changes
In the Gospel Jesus emphasized the role of sincerity in prayer and fasting.
A wise man once said, "The greatest acts of love are often done when no one is watching." The same applies to our spiritual life—true prayer and fasting are not about public recognition but about deepening our relationship with God. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, warns against the hypocrisy of making a show of religion, calling us instead to seek God in secret, where the true rewards of faith are found.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see two kinds of religious people: those who worshiped sincerely and those who performed rituals for public approval.
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee boasts in his prayer, while the tax collector humbly cries, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" The latter was justified before God.
In contrast, Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:10-13 prayed in silent agony for a child. She was so sincere that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. But God saw her heart and granted her request.
In Isaiah 58:3-7, God rebukes the Israelites for fasting while continuing to oppress the poor. He says, "Is this the kind of fast I have chosen?" Instead, He calls for a fast that involves justice, kindness, and humility.
There is a story of a young monk who spent hours in prayer in the chapel but often looked around to see if others noticed him. One day, the abbot placed a candle behind him and asked, "What is the use of a candle if it cannot give light to itself?" The monk realized that his prayer should not be for display but for transformation.
In ancient Persia, a wise emperor would often disguise himself as a beggar to see how his people truly lived. He once spent a night with a poor man, sharing his food. Later, he revealed himself as the emperor and offered riches, but the man refused, saying, "The greatest gift you gave me was your presence."
True prayer is not about outward rewards; it is about experiencing the presence of God. Jesus’ teaching challenges us to examine our motives and practice true devotion.
Satish