#AshTag Misers

This is a repost from 3/6/2014.  I thought it was a good refresher, though, since folks are already starting to warn others about the "sinfulness" of showin' ash.  ;)

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Yesterday found Twitter aflutter with some of the most amusing Catholic hashtags I'd ever seen.  Things like #Ashtag and #ShowYourAsh.  It was so much fun seeing these #CatholicSelfies, because each ashen forehead was a reminder that we are ALL united in our humanity.  More than that, however, we all belong to Christ, and as such, are marked by the sign of His ransom.

Thus, I LOVED seeing these!

Starting the day the Catholic way #ashtag pic.twitter.com/YiaeaWudLj

— Marissa Foote (@marissafoote_) March 5, 2014

@TheEllenShow Hey Ellen, you've got a lil' something on your forehead. #ashtag pic.twitter.com/h5HCLKzFSd

— Mark Alves (@markalves) March 5, 2014

Mommy & daughter matching ashes! #ashtag #lentsanity pic.twitter.com/imAIbIMVdZ

— Leah Darrow (@leahdarrow) March 5, 2014

#Ashtag: Catholics snap Ash Wednesday selfies http://t.co/SKV3FFHl3r pic.twitter.com/L5u5rshdaf

— CBC News (@CBCNews) March 6, 2014

#ashtag smudges at the sink pic.twitter.com/c0JzB97TM6

— Daughters of St Paul (@DaughterStPaul) March 5, 2014

Oh no! The cross traced joyfully on my head before my baptism has turned to ash! Better return to the Lord! #AshWednesday #ashtag

— Charles, OFM Cap. (@FrCharles) March 5, 2014

However, alongside this bubbling evangelism, a parallel sentiment was trying to stifle the conversation.

Folks were commenting on these posts in condemnation, suggesting that those who were posting them were doing so for arrogant purposes.

C'mon now.  Seems a little bit arrogant to take the time to make a post implying the original posters were too stupid, lazy or prideful to understand the "meaning behind the Lenten readings."

To me, that screamed "Look at me and my super-humble-but-not-overly-super-because-I'm-still-humble humilty!"

Annoying.  Very, very annoying.

The Ash Wednesday marking is a communal prayer - an outward expression of an inward faith.  Much like saying Grace at meals in public.  Much like making the Sign of the Cross as a pitcher when you take the mound at a baseball game.

We NEED more public witness, and I'm glad folks found unity - and joy -  in sharing these photos.  After all, Lent isn't just about sadness, misery and self-flagellation.  It's about the joy of knowing we have been called by Christ to join Him in Eternity.

After all, this is the same mark used by the unnamed prophet in Ezekiel who runs through Jerusalem putting the "tau" on the foreheads of the righteous.  "Tau" is the Hebrew letter "T."  Anyone not marked with this letter was slaughered while those with the mark (much like during Passover) were extended mercy by God.

That's right, folks.  The forehead mark in Ezekiel 9 was a cross, and it marked them as belonging to the Most High God.  Sound familiar?

So I applaud those joyously wore their ashen crosses.  We SHOULD be joyful.  This mark is the mark of salvation... the mark of mercy.

For, indeed, ours is a Merciful God.

<3