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.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?'”
Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
I know we’re all supposed to be solemn and all, but I always looked forward to and enjoyed Lent. A refreshing, invigorating experience!
Boogywstew,
To your point, at this morning’s Ash Wednesday mass during the homily the priest suggested that Lent should be a time of joy – if you are embracing it correctly.
Instead of looking at as a chore, as a painful experience of “giving up” things or “going without”, look at it as a time for self-reflection, an examination of conscience: where am I falling short, what am I doing that I should reconsider or that I should start doing?
If you apply the central virtues of Lent – fasting, prayer and almsgiving – in a correct and productive way, you should find yourself growing closer to God, closer to holiness.
So, after following this practice over many Lenten seasons and growing closer to God you should feel joy, contentment and a sense of peacefulness.
Granted, easier said than done, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying!
May our Lord’s Peace and Joy be with all Treepers
Excellent overview for those who may find a solemn feel during Lent but it need not be without a joyful spirit. Thanks for sharing! God bless ❤️🙏🏽
Our priest spoke of the joy to be found during our Lenton devotions.
I was thinking how true this is. How can I not when every day my devotions help me be closer to our Lord. After spending 40 days focusing on His pure love for a sinner like me, joy is an understatement.
Thank you and God bless you, Menagerie!🙏🏻
Amen.
Concerning fasting that pleases God
Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Tell my people their wickedness,
and the house of Jacob their sins.
They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”
Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,
and drive all your laborers.
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting,
striking with wicked claw.
Would that today you might fast
so as to make your voice heard on high!
Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed,
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;
Then the Lord will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.
The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake,
and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;
“Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you,
“Restorer of ruined homesteads.”
(Liturgy of the Hours, First Reading, Isaiah 58:1-12)
Bless you for sharing!
Dust thou art,
and to dust thou wilt return.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
“For remember, from dust you came and to dust you shall return.”
Very humbling.
And being humbled, we can remember
“… in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Have a fruitful Lent everyone!
“He who would have a short Lent, should borrow money to be paid back at Easter”, Benjamin Franklin
Thank you Menagerie.
Not sure I like this Bible translation, but good focus on the day and it’s meaning.
I just returned from receiving my ashes for Ash Wednesday. Feeling at peace.
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments”.
Psalm 119 ,176
from The Collects, meditation, contemplation for Ash Wednesday:
“Almighty and Everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”
or in modern day words, the period of self-examination to contemplate the difference between the sin, and the sinner, and use this period given to us to recognize our own shortcomings, in preparation for the gift of the redemption of Easter.
Paraphrased Genesis 18:27.
Three angels visit Abraham and Sarah.
After Abraham extends food and hospitality, two angels head to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham has a conversation with the angel who is left. He is identified as Yahweh, God’s given name. So, He is the Angel of the Lord.
God tells Abraham why the two angels are going to Sodom and Gomorrah. They will inspect the cities for their wickedness that has been made known to God.
Abraham questions God if he will destroy the righteous with the wicked?
Abraham begins to negotiate with God for the salvation of the righteous.
Abraham acknowledges his humility as if he were sitting in dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27).
Abraham then presents his petition to God for a remnant of the righteous be saved in Sodom and Gomorrah.
Finally, God agrees.
IF ten righteous people are found, He will save Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ten were not found.
This is why we acknowledge our shortcomings and repent. But we are also to petition for salvation of others. Therefore, the symbol of ashes.
Ref: Genesis 18 & 19, Isaiah 6.
Lovely posts here. Inward transformation: “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” Psalm 51:17
For the victory is the Lord’s
Numbers 6:24-26 One of my favorite blessings:
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
To Menagerie and all the treepers.
I love this so much, I had an ASL teacher friend show me the sign language for it so I can bless those who can not hear.
Have a blessed Ash Wednesday, all!
Kinda sad.
Ash Wednesday’s titled post gets 24 comments
and
Zelenskyy vs Trump’s
Oval office arguing
about security guarantees got
well over 1,200.
Lent to many is a time to give up something like dessert, chocolate, ice cream. We see it as a time to “give” to others. Yes, $ money but how about your time, your help, your love and concern. To spend quiet time everyday with the Lord Jesus. Time with family members, the shut- ins, your neighbors. Look people in the eyes as you walk into the grocery store and recognize them with a smile and a greeting. Show God’s light and love through your actions. Give up your time and self for others.
Menagerie…..
Have you watched/seen this yet?
It just came out today.
Jonathan Roumie: The Weight of Playing Jesus in the Chosen, & Why You Should Observe Lent
👆 👆 👆 Tucker Carlson….Rumble
From the White House website, ‘The President and First Lady’s Message on Ash Wednesday, 2025″
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/03/the-president-and-first-ladys-message-on-ash-wednesday-2025/
Instead of giving up something this lent I attend Bible Study. I am learning more and meeting some great Christians. God is good all the time. Jesus I trust in you.