Lenten Meditations: Ash Wednesday

Feb 14, 2024 by Jill

                                 PSALM               OLD TESTAMENT               EPISTLE                   GOSPEL

ASH WEDNESDAY

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: The Church teaches on this day about the call to change, metanoia/   so the readings for Ash Wednesday call us to consider some significant changes which we understand as the three pillars of the season of Lent: prayer, fasting & almsgiving (acts of charity). We consider these changes in our daily life patterns because they help us focus on a pivotal life and faith question, namely whether we are living the values of the gospel and the fullness of the faith once delivered to the saints. This question comes into clear focus when we are reminded in the Ash Wednesday Liturgy, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shall return”. For such a return to the Lord, changes need to be made so, we enter this day and this season.

As we begin this holy season of Lent in preparation for Easter, we must remember the significance of the ashes we have received: We mourn and do penance for our sins. We again convert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. We renew the promises made at our baptism when we died to an old life and rose to a new life with Christ. Finally, mindful that the kingdom of this world passes away, we strive to live the kingdom of God now and look forward to its fulfillment in heaven.

So today we consider.

1. 1. Prayer – This Lent try to spend a little more conscious time with God each day,
2. 2. Fasting doesn’t have to be from food & drink, it could be from an activity that takes you away from your f
3. 3. Almsgiving or acts of charity can be something global or something lo

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: In the first lesson of the liturgy for today, the Prophet Joel exhorts the Jews to sorrow and penance for their sins that they evade the expected judgment to be sent by God upon the city of Jerusalem. He required them to show their repentance not merely by rending their garments, a sign of mourning with the Jews, but by a truly contrite heart. The Church wishes us to see plainly from this lesson of the prophet what qualities our penance should possess, if we desire reconciliation with God, forgiveness of our sins, and deliverance at the Last Day, which qualities are not merely abstinence from food and amusements, but the practice of real mortification of our evil inclinations, thus becoming with our whole heart converted to God.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: O Lord and Master of my life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power and idle chatter. Instead, grant to me, Your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience, and love. O Lord and King, grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brother; for You are blessed now and ever and forever.  Amen (St. Ephraim the Syriac- 373)

 LENTEN LYRICS:  Ashes by Tom Conry, sung by SFDS Parish Choir in Canada https://youtu.be/pJvOejpJltA?si=4ysZT9S3QdQc4Oyt

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “The cross, with which the ashes are traced upon us, is the sign of Christ’s victory over death. The words “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” are not to be taken as the quasi-form of a kind of “sacrament of death” (as if such a thing were possible). It might be good stoicism to receive a mere reminder of our condemnation to die, but it is not Christianity

.”,– Thomas Merton, from “A Lent Sourcebook ed. by P. Mazar, R. Baker, E. Kaehle

LENTEN DISCIPLINE – Consider using a Mite box this Lent a longstanding tradition of Lent. Mite boxes are named for the story of the “widow’s mite” (Mark 12:41–43) whereby we give offerings of coins and small change. During the Lenten season, we do this with a particular charity in mind as a beneficiary

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