Ash Wednesday

Sunday, February 26th Readings

1st Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Abba Father

As I awake to each new day,

          may I be aware of the breath I take.

Before I even open my eyes,

          may I inhale deeply the life You give.

Despite the struggles or challenges,

          let me count the blessings and

          be fully aware of the love You have for me!

AMEN!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7

  • How is your relationship with God? Is it different than the way God intended it to be?
  • What do you try to hide from God? What do you hide from others? 
  • Is there a serpent in your life telling you untruths to keep you from fulfillment?

Romans 5:12-19

  • Paul says to be grateful for the sin of Adam. Why do you think he says this? Do you agree or disagree? What do you think?
  • Is there a difference between sinning against God and sinning against your neighbor?
  • How have you sacrificed or given to another for them to have life?

Matthew 4:1-11

  • Jesus fights the devil in the desert, how can you draw strength from this reading in your struggles?
  • Jesus uses scripture to ward off the devil’s temptations. What scripture can you use to help give you strength to fight temptation?
  • What desert places have you encountered? Are you in the desert now?  How does the scripture give you courage to overcome?

General Questions for Journaling

  • The gift of freewill gets humans into a lot of trouble. Is there a time when you knew the will of God but you ignored it like Adam and Eve?
  • Why do you think God gave humans free will but not the other creatures?
  • If God didn’t give humans free will, what do you think the world would be like?
  • How do you hide your sinfulness from others? Are you honest with yourself about your faults and failings?
  • Sometimes when a person fails, they become discouraged and give up because the weight of sin can be paralyzing. What can you do to help you remember that Jesus already bore your sins? How can you free yourself or others from the burden of sin?
  • Describe a time when you felt you were in the desert. Describe a time when you felt you were in the wilderness. How did those experiences similar? Differ? Where was God in these experiences?
  • Name the things that tempt you. When you do so, does it change the way you look at them? 
  • What do you desire? How do you know if it is good or bad? By what do you measure?
  • Jesus was willing to die for you; what are you giving up for him?
  • How does sin weigh you down? 
  • How are the 40 days of Lent like the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert?
  • What symbol of Lent means the most to you? Why? (choose a symbol to reflect on and help you through Lent)

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Let me remember…

ALL:  I am clay.

Leader:  As clay…

ALL:  I can be hard and dry.

Leader:  As clay…

ALL:  I must be molded.

Leader:  As clay…

ALL:  I can take on many forms.

Leader:  As clay…

ALL:  I am created perfectly.

Leader:  As clay…

ALL:  I can withstand the fire.

Leader:  This Lent…

ALL:  I am clay!

Challenge for the Week:  Simple challenge.  Plant a seed TODAY.  Gather dirt into a plastic cup, a pot or whatever you can find.  Tend to it throughout the Lenten Season and continue to nurture it through the Easter Season too.  Each time you look at it, water it or spin it in the sunlight, Thank God for caring for you.

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Discipleship 5K: A Physical and Spiritual Journey to the Cross by Heather Neds, author of the Weekly Scripture Journal is more than a book, it is a guide to becoming a stronger disciple.  Grab and copy and start the journey!

Ash Wednesday

Lent is more than a time when Catholics don’t eat meat and give up something like chocolate or cursing.
Lent is a season.
And like any season, ie spring, summer, fall, winter, there is (or rather should be) TRANSFORMATION.
This Lent, allow the scriptures to change you, transform you.
Let the Word fill you, awaken you and bring you to life.
When you do, then you’ll understand the full meaning of God saying, “return to me with your heart.”
Sometimes it is in letting go, that you find what you are seeking.

First Reading – Joel 2:-12-18

“Be Merciful O God, for we have sinned”

Psalm 51

On the surface this scripture is contradictory.
Jesus says, to go to your room and shut the door to pray in private, yet Ash Wednesday is the only time when you come to church and leave with a visual mark for everyone to see you believe in Jesus.
The ashes become the outward symbol that you are believer, thus shouting to everyone that you are Christian. However, the mark also is the acknowledgement that you are unclean, you are a sinner.
“Turn away from sin and be true to the Gospel”
So, YES, you are called to go to your room to pray in private to seek forgiveness, to become clean.
Think of Lent as you being “grounded.”
It’s time to work on yourself, your relationship with others and your relationship with God.
A time to change the wrong you’ve done and to make amends.
Lent begins with the Ashes on your forehead but through the six week of Lent you sacrifice, pray, and do the work.
Then at the end of Lent, the ashes are washed clean by the blood of the lamb. Washed away through the renewal of Baptismal Promises

Gospel Reading – Matthew 6:1-6,16-18