The Greek etymology is uncertain, but the Latin comes from the root word humus, from whence we get the word human, as in God created humans out of the humus, the dirt and the dust of the ground. Humility is that quality of character that does the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, not out of any want for applause or payback or pride. In the active voice (where the subject does the action), to humble, as in to humble yourself, means to regard yourself as no better than anybody else. The Greek verb to humble has two distinct meanings depending on voice.

Ergo the Ash Wednesday punchline: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matt. However, human nature being what it is, Jesus warns how alms-giving, fasting, and prayer, designed to guard our hearts, can all be corrupted by our hearts. They became disciplines for Christian Lent. These disciplines-alms-giving, fasting, and prayer-took the focus off yourself. The Judaism of Jesus’ day came equipped with disciplines to ward off vainglory. With vainglory, you dutifully follow what God demands, yet grow irritated when nobody notices or gives you credit for being so righteous. Early Christians filed such entitlement under the category of vainglory, the deadly sin of doing the right thing for the wrong reason. But danger lurks if in doing good you feel entitled to your own glory. Jesus encourages us to let our good deeds glow so people may give glory to God from whom all blessings flow.

It may be helpful to view these twin injunctions as counterbalancing rather than contradictory. Do we shine our light for others to see or keep it on a dimmer switch? While this is a huge relief for those for whom public displays of Christian devotion generate alarming awkwardness, it does seem contradictory. Do it all in secret, “then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (6:4). “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them,” he warns (Matt. 5:16).Įven so, Jesus then cautions against being too obvious about it. “Let your light shine before others,” he says, “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus tells his followers they are the light of the world. It is a season devoted to shining outward. Epiphany, meaning revelation, marks the bright manifestation of Christ to Gentiles, represented by the Magi.

With Ash Wednesday this pandemic year, the already dim light of Epiphany gives way to the murkier light of Lent.

What to say at the imposition of ashes