LENT REFLECTION: ASH WEDNESDAY
Joel 2: 12 - 13: 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.
During Lent, some of us will give something up as part of this time
of reflection. This stands true in verse 12 when the
prophet, Joel, writes about returning
our heart through fasting, weeping and mourning to God.
Yet,ultimately the prophet rightly says that God is longing for
the returning of our hearts, rather than our material
Benefits.
As we also celebrate Valentine's Day, let us
start Lent by returning our hearts to God, so that it can be
filled with His love and compassion. If you are giving up
something during Lent, do so, but do it with your heart
filled with the grace of the One who said that He has a
steadfast love for you.
