In is no surprise that when we stopped praying the Lenten collects, we soon lost the ability to think and speak about fasting in a biblical way. The old maxim has proven true, once again: Lex orandi, lex credendi.

Today is the last day of feasting before the Lenten fast. It is known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French). Some Christians are not comfortable with feasting, and are eager to get on with the rigors of Lent. But Jesus calls us to both repent and to fast, but also calls us to rejoice and to feast.

The imposition of ashes is a classic example of an adiaphoron. There is no biblical mandate for, or biblical prohibition against, this rite. Ashes, of course, are biblical. Dust is the substance of Adam’s creation. Reminding our Old Adam that we are dust, and to dust we shall return is biblical. The use of sackcloth and ashes as signs of repentance are biblical. So the rite has biblical overtones, but it is not a mandate (just as Ash Wednesday and Lent itself - not to mention the entire church calendar - are all adiaphora).