On Ash Wednesday I grabbed a quick dinner on the way home from work. I walked into a fast-food restaurant, placed my order, and noticed the woman at the cash register gave me a puzzled look. She then asked:
“Ma’am, why is it that everyone who had dirt on their faces today ordered a fish sandwich?”
I happily explained the purpose of the ashes and the importance of the day in relation to the Easter holiday. While waiting for my meal, we chatted a while longer and discussed how Mardi Gras, something all good Southerners celebrate, played a part in the whole season of Lent. Once my order was ready, we cordially parted ways.
This is why I love Ash Wednesday. Ashes are both a great conversation starter and evangelization tool.
In fact, every Friday fish sandwich in Lent can be an opportunity for sharing our faith!
It makes me think: What if we boldly wore our faith everyday? How different would our daily conversations be? In today’s secular world many Christians compartmentalize their faith and only share it in a safe environment. This Lenten season, I encourage all Catholic Christians to boldly wear their faith everyday.
Start those conversations and share the love of Christ to all we meet.
Isaiah 61: 1-3
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes….
2 thoughts on “Dirty Faces and Fish Sandwiches”
Wonderful… Hope you’ll contribute more in the future…
Thanks Pat