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
Prayer of the Faithful
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Photo ID: 1615569214 - Ash Wednesday, crucifix made of ash, to dust as in the Christian religion. Lent beginning- Photo Contributor: vetre
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To listen to the audio recording of the readings, prayers and reflections for Ash Wednesday, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ash-wednesday-feast-abc-2024-edition-episode-464/s-lQ500fRXoFk
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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. –
Ashes, a symbol of destruction, death, and desolation, are an ancient Judeo-Christian symbol of our journey from death to new life….
We use the ashes from old burnt palm branches that were used in the Palm Sunday Masses last year.
When we think about Lent, we generally think 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: (2024) Fr Paul.
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.
Lent is a time of Prayer, Penance and Good Works, Which are three aspects of one thing.
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 create in us a space for God… and a detachment from whatever may keep us at a distance from an ever-closer connection to God.
Since, this beautiful season is time for God to help us loosen our wilfulness and self-focus, the idea that Lent is some kind of a test of our willpower and resolve, our resistance to temptation, actually defeats the real purpose of this time. Its precisely not about our willpower but surrendering our wilfulness and self-focus to God's giving and loving will. If we enter into the season with a humble, contrite and not-wilful attitude God's grace will produce wonderful fruits in us.. that will last…. Overcoming sin, and defeating habits is not about willpower, since its our willfulness, and the imperfection of our ability to will all that is good for us, without God's help, that often leads to our falling into the things we know are harmful to us and to others.
Imagine an army that tries to fortify its Castle – focusing on making the outside walls and doors strong and resistant to attack… but the enemy keeps trying to find gaps in the fortess, tiny flaws.. where the armour weak or imperfect… they can sneak in through these gaps and once inside they can wreak havoc… the idea of lent is not to build powerful external armour – so that if there is a flaw, we are helpless inside… Lent is allowing God's grace, and virtues and gospel values to so fill op the inside of our hearts and minds that if the enemy found a gap,,.. they would come inside the heart and find it so filled with Jesus' values that there is simply no room for them and they would have to retreat.. we rely not merely on outward shields as if the inner life is so completely weak that it would fall at once when breached.
In self-denial and in giving "of 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. (Let us read and pray with God's word in the scriptures even more in this season…. Because this living Word is the source of our grace and life….. and also let's read and reflect on the enormous resource of the lives and wisdom the saints, who have heroically shown us how to allow God's grace to fill us and transform us and grow in holiness and love.)
Let our heartfelt prayer this year be:
Lord, help us to be true ambassadors for you.. in our words, and actions.
Lord, let no-one look at our lives and actions and ask "where is your God." Let, our love and practical charity, shine out with the answer. During Lent, we give to the excellent cause of Project Compassion, run by the Catholic charity, Caritas.. (which means love in action). May this, and so many ordinary and everyday acts of kindness, patience, forebearance, mercy, practical help and compassion, fill our minds and hearts with Jesus' loving heart. ( please visit - https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion for more information and for donation options)
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 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.
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……… actions for the glory and praise of God alone… This is close to the nature and heart of God. This is also at the heart of the gospels and of our faith. It is the source of lasting truth.
So, let's make this time of lent the wonderful, Joy-filled gift 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
https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion
#Elizabeth Harrington – Liturgy Brisbane © Liturgybrisbane.
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed Photo ID: 1615569214 - Ash Wednesday, crucifix made of ash, dust as in the Christian religion. Lent beginning- Photo Contributor: vetre
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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 -
(as placed on the forehead.. the minister says: - ):
"Repent, and believe in the Gospel."
Or alternatively:
"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
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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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To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
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 - 2024]
May God bless and keep you.
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