Ash Wednesday 2008 Reflection: "By His Wounds We are Healed"

Ash Wednesday Reflection

6 February 2008 Ash Wednesday (A) - Violet

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Reponsorial Psalm: Ps 51 "Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned."
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Imposition of Ashes: Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED

Once again we start the penitential season of Lent with our celebration of Ash Wednesday. This day we will be reminded of our humanity, of our wounds, of our frailties, through the ashes that will be imposed on our foreheads. We belong to the earth. We will return back to the earth.

Jesus was also part of this earth. He actually came forth to heal all our wounds, frailties, and sins. Through his death on the cross, we have been saved. Through the wounds on his body, we have been healed.

Let us remember with grateful hearts the sufferings of the Messiah. Let us remember to rend our hearts to him. What is more important is that we strip off our materiality and pride, and that we give to the Lord our life and our being. This is the challenge of Lent - to come back to the Lord with all our heart, mind and being.

And we must always remember that through the wounds of the Christ, we have been healed; through the blood of the Christ, we have been cleansed; through the death of the Christ, we have been saved.

A blessed Ash Wednesday to one and all.

- EJ Segovia
5 February 2008

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Today is a day of FASTING and ABSTINENCE.

Imposition of Ashes
P - Dear friends in Christ, let us ask our Father to bless these ashes which we will use as the mark of our repentance. (Pause)
Lord, bless the sinner who asks for your forgiveness and bless (+) all those who receive these ashes. May they keep this Lenten season in preparation for the joy of the Easter.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All - Amen.