"Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
The Anlgican News Service put out a press release written by the Rector of a big church in Manhattan called "Why all the Ashes?" In it he ponders whether he should have a washing station at the back to the church to wipe the ashes of parishoners foreheads before they return to work. In doing so he is attempting to live out the Gospel lesson for Ash Wednesday which calls us to live our fait without being showy.
On the flip side, in the Gospel for Lent 2, Jesus is very straight forward with Peter and the rest. Do not be ashamed. Wear the ashes on your forehead not for your own glory but for the Fathers. Deny yourself and pick up your cross so that God might be glorified in all you do. Being a "good" Anglican I appreciate the tension Jesus sets up here. Living faith without being showy vs. living faith to bring about conversion and transformation. Tough stuff.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Steve,
great stuff here...I feel called to post!
Awesome,
peter
Post a Comment