Readings for February 17 – The Fast of Ashes (Ash Wednesday)

Normally there won’t be so much to read each day.  But since today is Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) it is very fitting that we stretch ourselves to read more than we normally would.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 NRSV

Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Joel 2:12-17 NRSV

Yet even now, says the Lord,
Return to me with all your
Heart,

With fasting, with weeping, and
with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your
clothing.

Return to the Lord, your God,
For he is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and abounding in
Steadfast love,
And relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not
Turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind him,
A grain offering and a drink
Offering
For the Lord, your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion;
Sanctify a fast;
Call a solemn assembly;
Gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
Assemble the aged;
Gather the children,
Even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his
Room,
And the bride her canopy.
Between the vestibule and the altar
Let the priests, the ministers of
The Lord, weep.
Let them say, “Spare your people,
O Lord,
And do not make your heritage a
Mockery,
A byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

Reading

Let us get up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: It is high time for us to arise from sleep. Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls out this charge: If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts. And again: You that have ears to hear, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. And what does he say? Come and listen to me, sons; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Run while you have the light of life, that the darkness of death may not overtake you.

– The Rule of St. Benedict *

Let us hear the word of the scriptures as we begin this journey through Lent.  Let us run to God in repentance as the prophet Joel reminds us.  Also remember that even though we are keeping Lent as a community let us not flaunt our fasting.  Keep your Lenten discipline to private unless you need other to help hold you accountable or unless you need to talk about it with your parents.  This will keep our hearts from being filled with pride.

Let this ancient prayer of the church be our prayer during Lent.  Let us pray this daily so that God may use these words to soften our hearts and receive what he has to offer us.

Prayer
O Lord and master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.  But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, paitience, and love to Thy servant.  O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother or sister for blessed are you always.  Amen.

– The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem **

* The Rule of St. Benedict was a book of discipline for a group of monks in Italy written by St. Benedict.  St. Benedict lived from 480-547 AD.  The Rule of St. Benedict is one of the more influential spiritual documents in Western Civilization and had a profound impact on John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.

** St. Ephrem (306-376) was a Christian who lived in Syria.  He spent most of his life writing hymns, poems, and other theological works.  This prayer is commonly prayed by many Christians all over the world during Lent.

Enter the Journey

Lent is a time of year when we, as the people of God, deny ourselves and say “no” to our will so that we might say “yes” to God.  This blog is for the youth (or really anyone) at St. Luke UMC that wants to seek out some daily reading during this 40 day journey.

During Lent we traditionally give up things whether they be food, forms of entertainment, or other aspects of life.  But we need to be clear about this.  The act of giving up things for Lent isn’t like earning heavenly bonus points.  We give up things because in denying ourselves we are able to see God more clearly.  In denying ourselves we are able to see what our deepest need really is – to be united with Christ!

I want to encourage you over these 40 days to take up this discipline of fasting.  The journey to the cross and then to the resurrection over these next 40 days will be tough.  Fasting isn’t fun but if you do it with your eyes on God it will help you to be in a place where you can truly receive what God has to offer you.

Embrace the spirit of Lent and keep the fast.  Fill your time with holy things over these 40 days.  Read the scriptures, spend more time in prayer, give more generously to the poor, and begin and end each day with repentance and confession to God.

I promise you that if you do these things you will be drawn closer to God and you will experience Easter in a way that is more exciting than you ever could have imagined!

– Ben