Wednesday 22 February

22 February

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2: 12-18; Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6;2;
Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18.

Now is the acceptable time.

Many people will receive ashes on their foreheads today, greet each other prayerfully as companions on the journey of continued and deepening conversion. Public proclamation of personal failure and admittance of faults is not easily done. Yet, here we are again, acknowledging that we have sinned, fallen short of the mark, and wearing a mark to show everyone. Lord, you are merciful to all: it is your mercy that brings me here, mercy available to everyone. Now is the day of salvation.