Ash Wednesday YEAR C 2022
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
God of Reconciliation,
You demand much of us
inviting us to tell truths
by turning towards each other.
May we leave our trinkets where they belong
and find our treasure
by turning towards each other,
Because you needed this.
Because we all need this.
Amen.
Padraig O’ Tuama (Daily Prayer)
We find ourselves here, again, today.
Today, a Holy Day, 7 weeks before Easter Sunday.
We stop today, we pause, we are somber, we reflect on our mortality:
Not because we are to assume guilt, more guilt in our journey.
Not because we are to seek out blame and punishment for sin.
Not because we are more pious than someone else.
Instead, we stop today:
to be encouraged,
to set our pilgrimage towards Easter with the mindset of how then can we live lives turned towards God
and to join in those around us in seeking to reconcile this world with God’s Love.
I wonder how then can we carve out time in our busy world to seek the treasure of being reconciled,
or being connected to God and one another,
and to know the beloved-ness of a God who has sacrificed the deepest love for us.
Our readings today remind us that the God we believe in:
Is full of compassion
Slow to anger
Full of mercy
The God we believe in is like a parent who cares for all of us children.
How often do we recognize that in the midst of our strife, this love and care and compassion is the example of God that we follow?
How often do we instead think of God as judge and executioner only and not as a bridge and community builder?
Now is the time to make space to reflect on the attributes of God.
These 40 days allow us to stop.
To Reflect
and be reminded.
Now is the time to make space to experience God’s faithfulness, beloved-ness and worthiness.
We are reminded in our reading today that the faith we are a part of has endured
THROUGH afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger.
This faith of ours is nourished by- purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness, genuine love, truthful speech.
The love of God turns our busy world upside down.
When we give all that we have, we succeed.
Where do you give your all?
When we collaborate, we see that together we can do more than we can even imagine.
Where have you seen these effects of collaboration build bridges?
When we look to those faithful people who have gone before us, we see that the success of this world is not the same success defined by God.
Treasure is being known by and knowing God.
Each of you ARE treasure and bring treasure to the community. Each of your stories and walking in faith
Our greatest value is in seeing and sharing the light of God.
YOU each are a beloved treasure.
You each have spiritual treasure to share.
When was the last time you sat and reflected on the treasure you hold and are able to share with the larger community?
Made space to listen and develop that treasure for God?
Our gospel today reminds us that in Prayer, Fasting and Giving we can live in a practice of the love that God has given us.
These 40 days, how will you make space for your heart to grow, your lives to expand and the treasure of WHO you are grow in the knowledge of WHOSE you are.
God of Reconciliation,
You demand much of us
inviting us to tell truths
by turning towards each other.
May we leave our trinkets where they belong
and find our treasure
by turning towards each other,
Because you needed this.
Because we all need this.
Amen.
"I will with God's Help" 