Ash Wednesday

Selected verses from Psalm 73 and the Opening Prayer Mass for us to  reflect during Lent

…I was filled with envy of the proud when I saw how the wicked prosper.
 

….  They say: “How can God know?  Does the Most High take any notice?”
Look at them, such are the wicked, but untroubled, they grow in wealth.

Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Father in Heaven,
the light of your truth bestows sight
to the darkness of sinful eyes.
May this season of repentance
bring us the blessing of Your forgiveness
and the gift of Your light.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
[International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)]

In our 1^st Reading the prophet Joel told us “…Rend your hearts, not your garments.”  This Lent Focus on the inside, and not externals.

St. Paul instructs us to “… receive the grace of God ….”

He wants us to be open to God’s grace, be thankful for God’s grace and to use God’s grace to grow in holiness.

Matthew in his Gospel reminds us to “… pray in our inner room.”  That means pray always but never to get attention.

The reason the Church gives us the Lenten Season each year, is to provide time for us to look at ourselves, to take stock on how we are living as disciples of Jesus Christ.

May God Be Praised!