Ash Wednesday as we begin Lent Prayer

The ashes we use are the burnt palms from last year's celebration of Passion Sunday.
We begin our Lenten journey aware of where we are going.
We want to enter into the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus for us more fully.
That is the purpose of our journey. It is why we mark our heads with his cross.
It is why we fast today and abstain from meat.

Our Lenten program is not an effort to save ourselves. 

We have been saved by his sacrifice. 

Our self-denial helps us, in the darkness that surrounds us, 

to prepare ourselves to receive his light. 

For this is a journey to the Easter font, 

where we will renew the promises of our Baptism, 

remembering that in dying with him in the waters of Baptism, 

we are re-born with him to everlasting life.

This year's journey begins today.

Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;

Rend your hearts, not your garments, 

and return to the LORD, your God. 

For gracious and merciful is he, 

slow to anger, rich in kindness, 

and relenting in punishment. 

~ Joel 2:12-13 ~