Daily Lenten Reflections

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Ash Wednesday

Reflection

On Ash Wednesday, we as Catholics enter Lent, a time of quiet prayerful reflection. We consider our own sinfulness in the face of the suffering and death of our Savior for our own salvation. It is a time to "return to the Lord" as we may have drifted away in all the busyness and distractions that come our way. Lent is a somber time, but it is also a time to be grateful. Rather than feeling shame that we may have neglected our relationship with God, we should remember that God is constantly rejoicing in us as the prodigal son who was lost but comes home again. We hear in the first reading that our God is "gracious and merciful...slow to anger, rich in kindness." He never tires of forgiving us for our sins and transgressions. This is a very comforting thought for me, because as I often feel that my sins and my shortcomings make me unworthy of God's love, I can remember that God is unlike us in that He will never run out of forgiveness. He will never neglect us for the many times we neglect Him. This understanding truly makes me want to respond to the call to be an ambassador for Christ, to be the hands and the feet of His church and to tell everyone I meet, "now is the day of salvation." Now is the day of salvation because God's mercy and forgiveness is for every day, not just on the day we die. Now is the day of salvation because God calls us to a new and deeper relationship with Him every day. Now is the day of salvation because God offers us His love today, and today He calls us to bring this love to all people.

Prayer

Lord, as we begin our Lenten journey, help us to return to You with our whole hearts and renew ourselves in Your love. Watch over us as we fast and pray, and help us to know Your forgiveness as we confront our sinfulness. We pray also for those of Your children who do not know Your love, that we may be ambassadors of Your son Jesus to them, and that they may be receptive to the message of salvation. We pray that You may always be alive in our hearts and that we may live in Your love. Amen.

Amelia Seman, ‘15

Scripture

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Psalm 51:3-6a, 12-14, 17
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

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Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry

The Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry at Saint Michael’s College is to share the Good News of the Gospel with the College community by facilitating encounter with Jesus Christ. We do this through the celebration of the Church’s Liturgy, in programs promoting knowledge of the Catholic faith, by developing ecumenical and interreligious relationships, and providing retreats and other opportunities for personal spiritual growth.

The Catholic and Edmundite tradition upon which the College was founded is grounded in the conviction that all women and men are created in the image and likeness of God providing a special dignity unique to each person. Such dignity requires human life to be respected in all of its stages recognizing that we are all children of God.

Therefore, in its pursuit of furthering the Reign of God, the Edmundite Campus Ministry staff seeks to interact with and support every member of the College community in their search for Truth, contributing to the “enhancement of the human person and to the advancement of human culture in light of the Catholic faith.”