I get confused about Ash Wednesday because of Isaiah 58:5..."You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ASHES. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?"
I understand what you are saying, what about those who have to let everybody know that they are fasting?
Matthew 6:16-18 (The Message)
16-18"When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well.