Ash Wednesday

Daily Prayer

Merciful Father, who sent Your beloved Son to teach us your love and mercy, as we begin the discipline of Lent, make this season holy by our self-denial. May our Lenten penance give You glory and bring us Your protection.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
(Click for today’s Readings.)

Scripture Quote

Matthew 6:6 

“But when you pray, go to your inner room, 
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. 
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

Reflection

Today we start the Lenten season. We turn from the liturgical color of green to that of purple. We receive ashes on our forehead in the sign of the cross. Ashes remind us of the dust to which our bodies will return. But if we make good use of this Lenten season, our hearts will return to God.

“The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).

Because God is love and mercy, God desires a relationship with us above all. He sent His Son to this world so that He could fully experience what it is to be human. God wants metanoia, a conversion of heart, an awakening to His love. We open ourselves up to that love when we go into our Inner Room and pray. This Lent let us accept God’s love and let it enter the Inner Room of our hearts.

Reflection Questions

Am I focused on God when I pray?

Do I set aside time each day to pray?

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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