A Journey of Faith
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out our transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. –Psalm 51:1-2 NRSV Bible
Today is Ash Wednesday. Today we begin a journey of faith. Today we mark ourselves as mortal beings, through the imposition of ashes. Today Lenten fasts begin for those who commit to such faith practices. Today we begin a season of carving a little more time for God in our lives, intentionally renewing or adding new spiritual disciplines. Today is a Wednesday that is different from all other Wednesdays. Today is Ash Wednesday.
Psalm 51 is the chosen psalm for this day. As we read it and reflect upon it, we join King David in confessing our sin, our brokenness, our need for a Savior. Try as we might, we are simply lost without Jesus. Because of the abundance of God’s mercy, Jesus lovingly draws near and meets us in our lostness. He comes to be with us and receives us as his beloved sisters and brothers. This is how deep and wide is God’s mercy—there’s enough for you and me… and the world, too. Thanks be to God!
So, may we join Lord Jesus, the Christ of mercy, on this Lenten journey. Ash Wednesday is only the first step, but it’s a great place to begin this forty day walk to Calvary, with Jesus and with his people, known as the church.
Prayer:
O God, your glory is always to have mercy. Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (#334 The United Methodist Book of Worship)
Rev. David Eardley
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