Hello, Reader!
Join us today at 6 pm for Ash Wednesday with Canon Scott.
Reflection on the Readings for Ash Wednesday 2026
Join us as we begin our Lenten journey!
Old Testament – Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 The prophet Joel sounds an alarm: the Day of the Lord is approaching, a day of darkness and gloom. Yet God extends an invitation amid the warning: “Return to me with all your heart.” This is a call not to outward displays but to genuine conversion: “rend your hearts and not your clothing.” The entire community is summoned to a solemn assembly, and the priests are called to weep and plead for mercy. Our God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, one who relents from punishing and desires to bless his people.
Psalm 103:8-14 The Lord is full of mercy, slow to anger, and overflowing with kindness. He does not treat us as our sins deserve. His mercy reaches as high as the heavens, and he removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. Like a loving father, God shows compassion because he knows what we are made of — he remembers that we are dust. This tender acknowledgment of our mortality and fragility lies at the heart of Ash Wednesday.
Epistle – 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Paul issues an urgent appeal: “Be reconciled to God.” At the heart of the gospel is an astounding exchange — God made Christ, who knew no sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God. The moment is urgent: “Now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!” Lent is not a time for delay. Paul then describes the paradoxes of Christian discipleship — treated as impostors yet true, as dying yet fully alive, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich.
Gospel – Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Jesus warns against practicing piety for show. Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting must not be performed for human approval — that fleeting praise is the only reward we will receive. Instead, our spiritual practices should be done in secret, before the Father who sees in secret. Jesus concludes by calling us to store our treasures not on earth, where they decay and can be stolen, but in heaven. Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
Reflection: The central theme of these readings is authentic repentance that transforms the heart, not merely outward appearances. Joel calls us to rend our hearts, not our clothing. The psalmist assures us that God, who knows we are dust, extends infinite mercy. Paul urges us to accept this grace now. Jesus teaches that true piety is practiced in secret, before the God who sees all. As we receive ashes today — a public mark of our mortality — we are reminded that the real work of Lent unfolds in the hidden places of our hearts. We are dust. But we are beloved dust, formed by God’s hands and filled with his breath. This Lent, may we return to the Lord with all our hearts.
You can read the full reflection and Scripture texts on today's services webpage.
The podcast of today's service will be available later today on your favorite podcast platform, or you can listen here.
If you feel inspired to pray for others, we encourage you to include those on our prayer list in your prayers to help strengthen our community.
If you need inspiration for prayer, remember the Book of Common Prayer or these prayers to guide your prayer journey.
Don’t forget to review this week's announcements and the church calendar.
Blessings, and have a great week!
