In a very visible way, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, when we take stock and prepare ourselves for the journey toward Easter.
Today's readings, drawn from our rich collection of resources to aid your Lenten journey, offer reflections on Ash Wednesday's invitation to face ourselves honestly and without fear in order to open our hearts and minds to God's forgiving love.
Let your family, friends and loved ones know you care with explorefaith's premium e-cards. Each unique card conveys a heartfelt spiritual message, and at just $5 each provides affordable, but needed, support for our ministry.
During Lent, explorefaith is pleased to offer Preparing for Sunday, from Church Publishing Inc. This online spiritual tool allows you to access Sunday lectionary readings at your convenience, and then reflect and pray with them at any time.
Also available are an overview of the reading and the scripture's background, a reflection, and a prayer starter to enhance your worship experience.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the gateway to Lent. We have forty precious days to open ourselves up most particularly to God, to examine ourselves in the presence of one who created us, knows us, and loves us. We have forty days to face ourselves and learn to not be afraid of our sinfulness.
We ARE dust, and to dust we shall return, but with God's grace we can learn to live this life more fully, embracing our sinfulness, allowing God to transform us.
May God grant us: the wisdom to know ourselves; the courage to admit our sins; and the grace to receive God's never-failing mercy and forgiveness. Amen.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
—Deuteronomy 30:19
We all have shadow sides to our personalities; we all fall far short of Jesus' commandment to love others as we love ourselves; we all have done things we ought not to have done, and left undone things that we ought to have done. To confess these things to ourselves and to God, in the presence of others who are doing the same, is a remarkable experience.
