Lent

feb 9, 2005 Ash Wednesday Joel 2:12-18

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly;
Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders,
gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, And say,
"Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?'"

Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

This is the first reading for the Mass today for Ash Wednesday. We will have ashes placed on our foreheads. We come from dust and we return to dust. Fasting for forty days begins. We will at the monastery concentrate on "doing with less" and living more simply. There are also charities locally and abroad that we will contribute to. It is now a time for turning back
to God with all my heart.