18 February 2026

Suggested Readings:

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Isaiah 58:1-12

Psalm 51:1-17

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the forty days of Lent. Lent is the solemn observance in the Christian liturgical year in preparation for Easter. Lent echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels of Mathew, Mark, and Luke. Ash Wednesday is a holy day of fasting and prayer in many western Christian communions.

I did not grow up in a church that recognized Ash Wednesday. My introduction to Ash Wednesday came through an Episcopal colleague who invited me to participate in an Ash Wednesday observance. As I knelt at the altar and received the smear of ash on my forehead, I realized that this was a deeply spiritual moment.

In our church, we introduced the idea of Ash Wednesday in stages. On one occasion we ask folks to write on a post-it note some sin, disappointment, or failure that they would like to change. We burned those pieces of paper and as the smoke rose, we acknowledged that our sin, failure, or disappointment went up in smoke. On another Ash Wednesday we tacked our concerns to a foam cut out of a cross and left our burdens there. Once we passed out bandaids and ask people to write one word on the packaging. The bandaids were randomly shared and we wore each others’ burdens. These steps led to a full expression of Ash Wednesday, which involves burning the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday and observing the complete Ash Wednesday liturgy. I encourage you to take the time to read the Ash Wednesday liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer. I find the Litany of Penitence to be especially meaningful. If you would like to read the Ash Wednesday liturgy, please paste this link into your browser: https://www.bcponline.org/SpecialDays/ashwed.html

The season of Lent is meant to be a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal. There is nothing magical about a smear of ash on one’s forehead. There is, however, something deeply spiritual in humbling oneself in the presence of God by accepting the ash and allowing that stain to remind us of our need for forgiveness. Wearing the stain in public witnesses to one’s commitment to a season of reflection and penitence.

It is important to remember that reflection is not meant to be an opportunity to beat ourselves up and decide that we are worthless. Reflection is honest introspection that allows us to receive forgiveness and redirect our priorities. Repentance means that we change the trajectory of our lives from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness. It will take some work and there will be missteps along the journey. But forgiveness is always available. As we dare to take this spiritual pilgrimage the spirit of God joins us on the journey. This is the spirit that intercedes when our own words fail us (Romans 8:26-27).

I encourage you to embrace the Lenten journey as an opportunity to renew your relationship with God. God does not want us to live miserable unhappy lives, bogged down by sin and frustration. The cross is incontrovertible evidence that God loves you. You are God’s beloved child. Take God’s hand this Lenten season and invite God to gently, firmly, mold you into the person God created you to be.

 

LECTIO DIVINA

As we journey through the Lenten season, I invite you to pay special attention to the suggested readings. If you are not familiar with Lectio Divina (Latin for “divine reading”) I would like for you to consider its practice as you read these texts.

Lectio Divina is a traditional Christian practice of slow, reflective reading of Scripture to enhance communion with God. There are four stages to Lectio Divina. Reading, Reflecting, Prayer. Contemplation. Divine Reading is contemplative, not analytical. It is meant become a living dialogue with the Holy Spirit. Its purpose is spiritual transformation, not biblical interpretation.

Here are some questions/suggestions to ask yourself as you read the biblical texts.

 

1. What word or phrase stands out to me?

2. How does this word or phrase affect my life as a disciple?

3. How should I respond to God based on my reflection of this passage of scripture?

4. Rest in the presence of God. Take the time you need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your reflections and begin a process of transformation.

5. What is God asking me to do or change as a result of reading and contemplating this passage of scripture?