February 17, 2010

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 * Psalm 51:1-17 * 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 * Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Joel 2:12-17

¹² That is why the Lord says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
¹³ Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish.
¹⁴ Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve,
sending you a blessing instead of this curse.
Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine
to the Lord your God as before.

Today is Ash Wednesday.  For years I had no idea what this day was about.  In our Wesleyan tradition, we don’t follow much of the church year, except for Christmas and Easter.  Many churches now observe Advent and we are observing Lent here at Parkway with its emphasis on prayer and fasting.  Today we remember our humanity — our sinfulness — the fall of Adam.  Just like Adam we have sinned.  Today reminds us that short of a Savior — short of the cross — we would have no hope.  It is a day of confession before God – a solemn assembly.  Many will receive ashes today and those ashes are in the shadowy form of a cross.  It reminds us that we are in need of the cross to save us from our sins.  We need this reminder of what we were saved from.  I will be leading our teens through a service tonight of confession and communion.  Today we mark the beginning of our forty day journey.