Ash Wed 2nd of March 2022. (episode: 353)
Readings for Ash Wednesday Mass -
First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Psalm: Ps 50:3-6. 12-14. 17. "Be Merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned."
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2
Gospel Acclamation: cf Ps 94:8 "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory! If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!"
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18
Homily
Blessing and Distribution of Ashes
Distribution of Ashes
Song
Prayer of the Faithful
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Id; 1189523149. Ashes in hand are prepared for the Ash Wednesday. By xmas_zest
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To listen to the audio recording of the readings, prayers and reflections for Ash Wed 2nd of March 2022. (episode: 353), please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-353-ash-wednesday-2022?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
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Prologue: Welcome as we gather to mark the beginning of the season of Lent… 40 days of prayer, penance and self-denial (reminding us of Our Lord's forty days in the wilderness), and to prepare us for the renewal and new life celebrated in the Easter season. Because of Covid-safety, the Church has adjusted the rite to accommodate this. "The words that are used explaining the meaning of our action with the ashes have not changed, but the moment when those words are said and especially the way the ashes are imposed will change,": "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and you will return to dust"." These words are normally pronounced at the moment of imposing the ashes on each of the faithful, but they will now be said only once before the distribution of ashes begins,- Then the action will no longer be to touch the forehead of the faithful by marking it with ashes," - The note indicates that the priest should not touch the faithful, but rather sprinkle some of the ashes on the top of people's heads," Interestingly, this is not a novelty. This method has long been standard practice in many Catholic areas, such as Italy, even in normal times. And sprinkling ashes on one's head as a sign of repentance and sorrow for sin is also referred to in the old testament. (1)
Ashes, a symbol of destruction and death, are used as an ancient Judeo-Christian symbol of our journey to new life…. We use the ashes from old burnt palm branches that were used in the Palm Sunday Masses. When we think about Lent, we generally think in terms of giving something up - a kind of 'dying' to self. But the readings for this day suggest that Lent is about beginnings: coming to new life, deepening our relationship with God and others, and transforming who we are and how we live. (2)
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Homily:
Lent is a time of Prayer, Penance and Good Works; Which are three aspects of the one thing.
From ancient times this Lenten observance reflects the three central concerns we have in life: Our duty to God (prayer), our duty to our bodies (fasting) and our duty to others (almsgiving).
The purpose of fasting and abstinence is not to punish ourselves, nor is it a time of testing our willpower and personal strength, but rather, it is to teach us detachment from whatever may keep us from a closer connection to God. In self-denial and in giving of our time to more prayer and good works, our hearts move even closer to God. Distractions like excess food or any other things that take up our time and energy are avoided, helping us become more focused, attentive and charitable.
In this Lenten fasting, we also remember and imitate the example of Jesus, who fasted 40 days in the wilderness, as he prepared to begin his life-giving ministry.
For us also, its also a recognition that sin has not only personal consequences but also sin has communal dimensions - and so Lent provides us as a community a means of expressing our common repentance. #
Lent is a six-week gift to the church from God…. As a time of nurturing positive habits of prayer, self-denial and giving of our time and resources for worthy causes… to build up our spiritual health…. and build up good spiritual habits and attitudes that become so automatic and natural to us that we do them without hesitation, and for no other reason than our love for God, so that as the reading says today....our left-hand does not know what our right hand is doing.
We have been given such treasures and gifts by God and they are priceless. We are sorry that sometimes we don't recognise the treasure from God and confuse it with the rubbish and static of OTHER things that distract our attention./
The only gifts worth having are actually the ones we give away./ The kind of gifts that are pretty useless if locked away and not used. /Gifts like love, given freely without expectation, kindness and forgiveness without hoping for something in return…. acts of charity, not for recognition or approval, but from the love of God welling up inside us. Random acts of kindness and compassion, that no one will ever know we are the ones responsible for.//
The gospel has a lot of wisdom in it… those things are done for no other reason but the love of God and not for anything else, call us to a deep inner movement of the heart towards God because it does not get any other reward but to serve and love God in each other… actions for the glory and praise of God alone…
So, let's make this time of lent the wonderful, Joy-filled gift that it really is. A time of peaceful self-denial and of making space for God… fostering positive habits that will last well beyond forty days.....and may God who has begun this good work in us, bring it to perfection… in the secret of our own hearts…
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
#Elizabeth Harrington – Liturgy Brisbane © Liturgybrisbane.
William Barclay – St Matthew - commentary
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Id; 1189523149. Ashes in hand are prepared for the Ash Wednesday. By xmas_zest
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
{{May God's Spirit of Wisdom and Awe abide in you.}}
(no penitential rite, as the ashes – given later – are the penitential act on this day).
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After the Homily -
(Just prior to the Distribution of Ashes - said once only):
"Repent, and believe in the Gospel."
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Memorial Acclamation
Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Preface: Lent III
Eucharist Prayer II
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{my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer and praise.}
Dismissal:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
-Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy," inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020
[ Production - KER - 2022]
May God bless and keep you.
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