ASH WEDNESDAY - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord. PS 94:8

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JOEL 2:12-18 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Once again we are in the blessed season of Lent. It is a time to reflect on the price paid for our salvation and how little gratitude we show You for the great exchange God deemed willing to make for our pitiful, miserable lives. How easily He could have erased them from the face of the earth yet He did not. So unfathomable is His love for us that He asked You to leave Your glory behind, take on human flesh and become like us in all things save sin. And You did, my Lord and my God.

Thank You, Father for giving us so glorious a Savior, Redeemer, Brother, Friend, and Spouse. Thank You, Beloved, for saying 'yes' to the Father's plan and redeeming us and for sending us Your Holy Spirit for without Him we could nothing pleasing to God. Thank You, Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son for making actual all that Jesus has made possible for us to become truly God's children and heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Sweet Spirit of grace and truth enlighten our minds and strengthen our will to truly appreciate what Jesus has done for us and to become more like Him every day.

PSALM 50(51):3-6,12-14,17 ©

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.

My offences truly I know them;

my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.

A pure heart create for me, O God,

put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Give me again the joy of your help;

with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-6:2 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You give us so many opportunities to turn our back on sin, repent, believe in the Good News, and become reconciled to You. The Church throughout the world will offer us Lenten missions to celebrate the Incarnate Word revealed in Scripture and in the Flesh. We will be invited to repent of our sins and resolve to offend You no more and make a good confession. The Holy Spirit will fill us with grace and give us a longing to return to You with all our hearts and He will give us a new heart and a new spirit making it possible for us to receive all that the Father desires to give us.

Yes, Lord, we believe that this is the favorable time, this is the day of salvation - let us delay our conversion no longer and rend our hearts, not our garments, and return to You with humble hearts and contrite spirits.

MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-18 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

There are subtle ways in which we can crow about our good deeds and we may fool ourselves that we are being modest and humble but not completely. We may be able to deceive others but we can deceive You. Thank You, Lord, for reminding us not to make a song and dance about our almsgiving, fasting, or about our prayer life. It does us no good at all to spend our energy hoping to impress others for as You warn us, we have already received our reward and can expect none from You.

Keep us meek, humble, and submissive to Your Word. Grant us a willing spirit to do all things for love of You and may we desire You alone as our only reward.