(Thank God for “may” rubrics!) And I’m not going to condemn anyone for a symbolic gesture, but I reserve the right to examine a bit deeper what I show the world about our faith in Christ. Our new hymnal makes provision of ashes under a “may” rubric, which means we’re free not to do it. I’m an “evangelist,” a proclaimer of “good news,” Gospel, and a smudge of death is not good news. It isn’t my office as a representative of Jesus Christ to put the mark of death on you. It isn’t my office to put soot on your foreheads, but to wash you clean of sin and death with the bloodied words of Jesus.
But here is a sample from “Why We Don’t Do Ashes on Ash Wednesday,” by Rev.
