A kinder, gentler Ash Wednesday

The LA Times reports today that many churches have quit burning palm fronds from the previous Palm Sunday to make ashes for Ash Wednesday services, and instead order them from an ashes supply shop. "It's just a lot easier and safer for most churches," said Father Tom Behan, who has served off and on at the Los Feliz parish for 40 years. "It's what Ash Wednesday means that matters."

Does the Father not understand the sense of continuity and connection between this year's ashes and last year's Palm Sunday services. To dust everything living returns? Good grief! All in the name of convenience. But wait, it gets worse:

In the Book of Genesis, God chastises Adam and Eve for committing their first sin, reminding them of their mortality by saying, "For dust you are and to dust you will return."

It's the phrase ministers or priests have commonly recited while marking worshipers' foreheads with ashes. But [Loyola Marymount professor Father Dorian]Llywelyn said now Catholic churches often say, "Turn away from sin and believe the Gospel."

"It's more of a positive spin, more to encourage you than frighten you," Llywelyn said.

The change in wording, like the move to buying ashes, reflects how churches adapt their practices over time, he said.

The Episcopalian friend who sent the story to me remarked: "Good Lord, if Ash Wednesday isn't allowed to be frightening, then what is? Can we now end Maundy Thursday with confetti shooting out over the congregation?"

A few years ago, I had been struggling with a parish I was in, and went to Ash Wednesday services there. Jam-packed. When the pastor came out to give the homily, he began with, "You might expect me to give a homily about sin and repentance today, but" -- pause for dramatic effect, slight chuckle -- "that's not my style." The homily went on to talk about how Lent was a time when we needed to learn to love ourselves more. After that, I concluded that this place was simply not serious about the Christian life, and moved on. Religion as therapy is no religion at all, at least no religion worth a damn.