Welcoming the Holy

Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.

When you pray…
          When you fast…
                     When you give alms…
                                    Ash Wednesday Gospel, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Opening Prayer

                    O God, in your kindness pour out the grace of your blessing
                    on your servants who are marked with ashes…

Some of us may have a bit of a “love/hate” relationship with the Holy Season of Lent. We love Lent because it nudges us back to the basics. We dread Lent - because more time for prayer, more self-denial and more generous sharing of gifts and resources - push us beyond our normal comfort zone.


Reading

Alexander Schmemann (From Great Lent: Journey to Pascha)

Bright sadness is the true message and gift of Lent.
      “Little by little we begin to understand, or rather to feel, that the sadness
      of Lent is indeed ‘bright,’ that a mysterious transformation is about to
      take place in us. It is as if we were reaching a place to which the noises
      and the fuss of life, of the street, of all that which usually fills our days
      and even nights, have no access – a place where they have no power.
      All that which seemed so tremendously important to us as to fill our mind,
      that state of anxiety which has virtually become our second nature
      disappear somewhere and we begin to feel free, light and happy. It is not
      the noisy and superficial happiness which comes and goes twenty times
      a day and is so fragile and fugitive; it is a deep happiness which comes
      not from a single and particular reason but from our soul having, in the
      words of Dostyevsky, touched ‘another world.’ And that which it has touched
      is made up of light and peace and joy, of an inexpressible trust.”

Reflection

Now take some time for personal reflection.

Our personal reflection today might begin with a simple question and time of quiet:
          Loving God, what is your desire for me this Lent?
          Please give me courage to embrace your will with a steadfast heart.


Closing Prayer

      Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by you,
Always follow your plans, and perfectly accomplish your holy will.
                   Grant that in all things, great and small,
                         today and all the days of my life,
                    I may do whatever you require of me.
     Help me respond to the slightest prompting of your grace,
   so that I may be your trustworthy instrument for your honor.
                  May your will be done in time and in eternity
                      by me, in me, and through me. Amen.
                                                                           St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)