A blessed Lent to all. The theme this year is "let us journey together in hope."

Two Ash Wednesday stories that you may find hopeful.

(quote #1)

SPEAKER ONE: "I’m Methodist but enjoy hanging out in this subreddit. We observe Ash Wednesday and put ashes on the forehead.

"A few years ago at an Ash Wednesday service, our pastor said something that stuck with me. It was about how it’s a personal choice to walk around with the ashes still on your head. He said something to the effect of “if your impulse is to keep the ashes on as an outward sign of being pious, I would encourage you to wash them off after the service. On the other hand, if your impulse is to immediately wash them off because you’re self conscious about others seeing you as a Christian in public, I would encourage you to delay washing them off.

"Like a lot things, I think it depends on your motivation. In fact, I personally feel convicted by the exact verse you posted, so I wash them off after the service. I still find meaning in the act during the service though."

(from username Seikoth, REDDIT, "Happy Wash Your Face Wednesday!" at https://www.reddit.com/r/Reformed/comments/1j434xy/happy_wash_your_faces_wednesday/ )

...

(sort-of-quote #2, to the best of my memory)

SPEAKER TWO: "When I was a young priest, I was scheduled to observe Mass on Ash Wednesday but I was out of town and flying back. I was anxious about missing my connecting plane but I could only wait. Then at my gate, a TSA agent pulled me out of line. I thought, oh, no, I'll miss my plane.

"He asked me if I was a Catholic priest. I answered, Yes. He asked if I had ashes on me. I answered, Yes.

"(I had them in my pocket. I don't know how I got them past airport security!)

"He said he couldn't go to church because he had to work. He asked if I would bless him with ashes. So I did. And when I looked up, there was someone behind him.

"I ended up distributing ashes for two hours. Missed my flight, of course. I called my church in a worry but the other priest said not to worry. Apparently I was exactly where I was supposed to be."

(--from Ash Wednesday Mass homily on March 5, 2025 on "Relevant Radio.")

NOTE: IF SOMEONE HAS THE EXACT QUOTE AND THE NAME OF THE SPEAKER, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST THE CORRECTION. (I think it was their "Father Simon" but I don't know.) THANKS!