Tag Archive for ‘Ash Wednesday’
Ash for a New Life
On 20 December 2021, an eruption began on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, a submarine volcano in the Tongan group of islands. The eruption reached a very large and powerful climax nearly 4 weeks later, on 15 January 2022. Hunga Tonga is 65 km (40 mi) north of Tongatapu, the country’s main island. Much of the island of Tongatapu was […]
Ash Wednesday
From the Pope’s homily, Ash Wednesday, 17 February 2021 We are now embarking on our Lenten journey, which opens with the words of the prophet Joel. They point out the path we are to follow. We hear an invitation that arises from the heart of God, who with open arms and longing eyes pleads with […]
Wednesday 17 February
Ash Wednesday Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus’ Way We begin our journey for Lent with Jesus of the synoptic gospels. In Matthew, Jesus teaches from the Mountain with a warning: “When you give a gift, do not let anybody know. When you pray, do not let other […]
Dust in the universe
We begin the Lenten Season by receiving ashes. The dust sprinkled on our heads brings us back to earth. It reminds us that we are dust and to dust we shall return (Genesis 3:19). We are weak, frail and mortal. Centuries and millennia pass and we come and go. Before the immensity of galaxies and […]
Wednesday 6 March
Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Ash Wednesday Today marks the beginning of our Lenten pilgrimage. We bear the sign of the ashes to show that we wish to repent and turn to the Lord. It is good to repent and be sorry for our sins. It heals us and revives […]
Ash Wednesday Reality
When I was a small boy in a small town, Ash Wednesday embarrassed me. We had a succession of parish priests with thumbs that seemed gargantuan to a child. They deposited great day-lasting dollops of ash on all available foreheads. Even babes in arms were not exempt: ‘Remember man that thou art dust …’. This […]
Wednesday 1 March
Ash Wednesday Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Love from the heart What do parents desire most of their children? Love, of course! Why would it be any different with God and his children? ‘Come back to me, with all your heart’ (Joel 2:12). ‘You must love God with […]
Wednesday 10 February
Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2, Ps.51, Matthew 6:1-16, 16-18 Ash Wednesday Lent is the season for repentance, a word which is nowhere better defined than by the prophet Joel in today’s 1st Reading. “Come back to me with all your heart.” “Coming back” involves a “turning.” turning away from our own selfish, ego-centred lives and […]
The Test of Two Worlds
We have just, it seems, completed the celebrations of Christmas and we are asking the question, ‘Where did all that time go.’ Towards the end of this month of February we are stepping out into the season of Lent. Many people of all persuasions embrace Christmas. It is a holiday time and a time of […]
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 […]
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