Ash Wednesday—we remember our mortality. It is a preparation before Christ’s resurrection. We pray; we fast; we ask for forgiveness (which ought to be a daily habit).
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. In any holy period, we prepare our hearts and minds—focusing on the Lord. By fasting from food, entertainment, vices, distractions, we tune our hearts and minds to the Lord of life.
The Lord wants our hearts and minds—to be transformed, to be more like Christ “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10: 5).
We are sinners, yes, but the Lord forgives when we come to Him in repentance.
In these 40 days, let your minds and hearts be taken captive in Christ.
"Confess sins of unfaithfulness: pride hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives, self-indulgent appetites and ways, our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves, intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, our negligence in prayer and worship.
Accept our repentance Lord for the wrongs we have done: blindness to human need and suffering; our indifference to injustice and cruelty, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, for our lack of concern for those who come after us.
Restore us good Lord, and let your anger depart from us; accomplish in us the work of your salvation by the cross and passion of your Son our Lord."
These passages from the Book of Common Prayer are powerful. Let us confess to the Lord and be restored to Him. Lord have mercy.
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