Why … it’s a smudge for Jesus of course!
I was brought up Catholic so I’m well aware of the ritual of smearing ashes on one’s forehead to mark the beginning of Lent. The tradition of placing an ash cross on one’s forehead is meant to show a person’s identification with Jesus and mourning over his death.
It also marks the start of that sacred period of 40 days when Catholics all over the globe are expected to make a sacrifice of some sort. You know … no chocolate … no salty treats … no smoking … the earth-crumbling personal suffering that shows one’s unyielding love for Jesus. After all, all he did was to die for man’s sins. So … no snacks are a good trade off.
It should be noted that neither Lent nor Ash Wednesday are even mentioned in the Bible. But such details have never stopped Catholics from invoking doctrine. Christmas, Easter and the numerous ‘Feast’ days are proof of that. Still, if it’s your thing then I say go for it. As for me, I no longer give into such rhetoric. I haven’t for many years.
Of course many people still do go for it. And every year without fail I get freaked out at the first sight of that smudge of dirt on a smiling stranger’s forehead. I get physically (and I’m sure noticeably) startled. It’s very disturbing to see all these people walking around the streets with crosses on their heads. Like some futuristic horror flick.
No … now I’m not comparing devoted Catholics to post-apocalyptic, flesh-eating, semi-robotic alien monsters bent on taking over the world. If that’s what you thought then you can just blame yourselves. Because I never said it. Ok … yes I said it … but to make a point about your sick, twisted mind not my own. I just got tripped up by that smudge.
So there. Besides … I bet a lot of folks out there only think of this as the head-pounding hangover day after Fat Tuesday. Happy Mardi Gras!
