Why the ashes brother?

After Fat Tuesday's blowout at Pewster Manor we will be headed to to church tomorrow at noon for the imposition of ashes. I did meet a few people last night who were clueless as to the reasons we do this. I wish I were as eloquent as some in explaining things, and I wish I had the following for them.    

This comes from the Rev. Matt Kennedy and is reposted in its entirety,

"Some of my reformed friends annually bemoan the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, as if it were;

1. merely some Roman Catholic custom unthinkingly adopted and 

2. an outward show of piety by which Christians seek to win approval from men (contra Matthew 6, which, not accidentally, is read during the service). 

My friends, I think, miss the point. The purpose for the imposition of ashes is so that we might publicly proclaim, not our piety, but rather our worthiness for condemnation. We publicly say: I am a sinner, worthy of death. Ashes are hardly a mark of spiritual pride. If used rightly, the ashes undermine the public view of Christianity, that it is a religion of moral improvement. The ashes say 'no.' The Church is an assembly of the would-be damned who have been rescued by Christ and his work on the cross alone. The ashes say, we have no hope but the cross. 

Of course every ceremonial act even in the most liturgically low congregation can be misused and abused, but the tendency among my reformed brethren is to discard the entire rite on account of its misuse. This is folly. And, moreover, it's difficult to think of a better way to invite our unbelieving friends and neighbors to inquire about the gospel. 

What is that black smudge on your forehead...? The ash means I am a sinner. The cross reminds me that God sent his only Son to save sinners.

Reposted on Shrove Tuesday several years running now."