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.
Many people associate the season of Lent with Catholicism, but that no longer holds true. Many other churches and people are choosing to observe the forty days (not including Sundays) before Easter. Lent is a time of penance, of choosing to look closely at our lives and invite the Holy Spirit in to help us clean house.
Often we will choose to give up something, a sacrifice we offer to the Lord, but also something we use as a way to remind us to be more holy, more dependent on God. We fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and we abstain from meat on Fridays as well, although many Catholics do not understand that we still have an obligation to fast on Fridays or substitute another penitential practice year round. We are called to give alms during Lent.
These practices are meant to help us prepare to meet Jesus on Easter Sunday, having walked these six weeks with him toward Calvary, fasting as he fasted in the desert, carrying our cross as he carried his, doing the will of the Father as Jesus taught us so well.
Like Mary, we hope to find ourselves at the foot of the cross on Good Friday, still with our Savior, looking with a more hopeful and receptive heart toward the Resurrection.
If you are not a member of a church, or your particular church does not have any Ash Wednesday service, you are welcome to participate at any Catholic Church. You do not have to be Catholic to attend the service or receive the ashes. I’m sure that is true of other denominations as well.
Catholics, and many other Protestant denominations follow a liturgical calendar, which I find to be of great aid to me daily and yearly in my attempt to follow Jesus. Advent begins our new Church year, and we look forward to the birth of Jesus. We then celebrate Christmas for an Octave, and the season ends with Epiphany. Soon after comes Lent, and we cast our eyes toward Holy Week, and the death, and Resurrection, and we again spend eight days, another Octave, celebrating Easter. After Pentecost comes the long stretch of what the Church calls Ordinary Time before we start again with Advent.
I find this yearly journey helps me keep an eye on where I am going. It helps me not just tread water spiritually, but make progress, and to more “live out” the life of Christ.
If your church has special services today or during Lent, please tell us about it, especially if visitors are welcome to participate. And don’t forget the Knights of Columbus fish fry on Fridays! Usually for eight or ten bucks you’ll get a get supper and help the Knights raise money for their charitable causes.
This post, and all of those you will encounter during Lent and Easter are meant to encourage us in our worship. If you choose not to worship, are not Christian, or have a grudge against specific faiths such as Catholicism, there are many forums online where you can debate or condemn. This is not one of them, and I will without any second chances ban anyone who breaks that rule. I’m sorry that this has become a necessary warning, but it has.
Amen.
What a great Gift. So simple, so complete, available to all despite their standings in any area, despite their past, despite their current situations – It’s not complex or incomprehensible – Jesus is the answer to ALL of the World’s problems…and yours. JOHN 3:16. Praying that All may see with new eyes and receive. And, for His Grace, daily.
I have often heard criticism of Christians because we think we are perfect. My response is always no, we are Christians because we KNOW we are sinners and KNOW we need a Savior. And Lord. 🙏🏼
Thank you, Menagerie, and may God bless you.
Create in me a clean heart O LORD; and renew a right spirit within me.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51&version=KJV
Thank you Menagerie. Video is very simple and on point. It was later in life that I finally relented and turned to see the face of God had always been shining upon me. Lent is a blessed time to redouble our efforts to turn back again and again to Jesus. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. A season of austerity but also a season of great focus and hope. May you and may all of us know the great Love our Father in Heaven has for us. We each matter as individuals to Him. He knows us and loves us!
Peace be with you!!
I needed this reminder terribly…I’m very glad I’m beginning my day with these thoughts. Thank you💜
I begin every morning in prayer. What a boost you gave to me this morning. Thank you so much. Succinct and beautiful message– as usual! ♥️🙏
I am not a catholic and I just learned more about Ash Wednesday in a matter of minutes than my entire life.
Silly question, but what constitutes fasting? I had just finished my devotional time and opened up the Treehouse. I feel this message was intended for me to pray about and follow.
Thank you for posting this information .
Not a silly question! Especially today. For Catholics, observing the fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday means eating only one full meal and two smaller meals, snacks usually, which would not be larger than a single normal meal. Most adult Catholics will not eat that much, depending on age and health. We also are bound to not eat meat on Fridays.
Fasting requirements are from 18-59, and the no meat rule from age 14. Every observant family I know follows these rules from a much earlier age, and we seniors don’t just stop our Lenten observances.
Thank you for asking, and I hope that you have a very fruitful Lent.
Thank you for your prompt answer. I was holding off having coffee thinking I needed to abstain from all foods.
I am guessing that fasting is a form of sacrifice which allows my mind to focus on the Lords face to find my strength (psalm 105:4).
Again, thank you for posting.
And the time that would have been used to prepare 3 meals a day is instead given over to prayer xx
In my Lutheran church, we’re fasting every Wednesday and Friday during Lent. It means that breakfast and lunch meals are replaced by time spent in prayer. The evening meal is usually lighter fare such as soup and bread. I’m from the northeast but am told it is a common tradition in Lutheran churches in the midwest to host a bread and soup meal on Wednesday to break your fast together in fellowship with one another.
From the church’s Ash Wed. bulletin…..”Lent begins with ashes. The wearing of ashes on our forehead may seem like an unusual tradition, but it is rich with meaning. From the earliest days, God’s children have repented before Him in sackcloth and ashes, a visual reflection of their hearts turning to HIM for forgiveness and restoration. Fixing our eyes on Jesus during the forty-day season of Lent, we journey with Him to Calvary’s cross where, enduring the “ashes” of our sins and the penalty they deserve, He grants to us the beauty of His forgiveness, full and free. Let us be renewed in our hearts and minds this day as we gather in the Lord’s house. His Word will show us our great need for His saving love and deliver to us the treasures He has promised.”
“From ancient times the season of Lent has been kept as a time of special devotion, self-denial, and humble repentance born of a faithful heart that dwells confidently on His Word and draws from it life and hope.
Let us pray that our dear Father in heaven, for the sake of His beloved Son and in the power of His Holy Spirit, might richly bless this Lententide for us so that we may come to Easter with glad hearts and keep the feast in sincerity and truth.”
Thank you for the information.
I knew next to nothing about Lent until seeing it talked about at TCTH and find the eating ritual very interesting.
I too am a “ senior” and have instinctively followed the Lenten practices for decades.
Cheers!
Beautiful, Menagerie and Thank You. Be strong in Defense of the Lord!
And God works in mysterious ways….The Holy Spirit is there for us…
About 10+ years ago, I was doing Adoration over Thanksgiving…I forget if it was early Thursday or early Friday…about 0230 or so…
A brisk chilly Illinois night, clear skies, winds at about 5 mph or less…very clear…no geese around…was in the Chapel sort of fighting the nodding off while praying for my adult kids…when suddenly…
There was a noise…a noise of a strong breeze or wind….going thru the Chapel…nothing moved…the HVAC was not on at the moment….it was loud enough to jolt me into reality…momentary fear…until I realized it was the Holy Spirit
That was a very real and profound moment in my spiritual life.
Thank you for sharing. I think many people have experienced things that are “inexplicable.” Mystery.
Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris
“Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” These are the words the priest speaks as he traces the cross on the forehead of the members of the congregation with ashes. Thanks for posting the Latin. Good words to reflect on during Lent.
I know this is too long, so skip past if it bothers you, and accept my apology beforehand. But I post for anyone who might ponder how our days are ordered.
When is Ash Wednesday you ask?
“so that the new moon and the fourteenth day of the Paschal moon always hold their place…which make it possible to find more surely and more easily the sacred date of Easter.”
The West is a Christian culture and the United States a Christian country.
According to the Washington family records, George was born on February 11, 1731/2. This is because Great Britain was using the Julian Calendar at that time. Great Britain enacted The Calendar Act and switched to the Gregorian Calendar in September of 1752. Wednesday the 2nd was followed by Thursday the 14th. The New Year started on March 25th under the Julian Calendar and was moved to January 1st under the Gregorian Calendar. Records often indicated dates under both calendars, resulting in what is known as double dating. This was denoted as OS, old style,(Julian) and NS, new style (Gregorian). Since George was born before March 25th, it was 1731 in the OS and 1732 according to NS.
The Julian Calendar was adopted by Julius Caesar in 45 BC. The Julian Calendar was based on a year of 365and1/4 days(a leap year every 4 years). The correct length is 365 days, 11 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. This adds up to a difference of a day every 128 years. By 1582, it was ten days out of sync and Pope Gregory XIII, on February 24th, issued a Papal Bull, Inter Gravissimas, declaring a new calendar named after him. In paragraph 10,(English Translation) he states the primary reason for the new calendar: “so that the new moon and the fourteenth day of the Paschal moon always hold their place…which make it possible to find more surely and more easily the sacred date of Easter.” Most Roman Catholic countries adopted the new calendar but Protestant ones did not. Turkey was the last country to adopt the calendar in 1926.
Extending the Gregorian calendar backward is called the proleptic Gregorian calendar. The new calendar is not perfect. It is off one day every 3236 years. The calendar was designed by an Italian from Naples, who was a doctor, astronomer and philosopher, named Luigi Lilio who died six years before it was introduced. The pope had called a committee to work on the issue which included Copernicus, who wrote “On the Revolutions” in 1566, dedicated to Pope Paul III. Christoph Clavius, a Jesuit, and astronomer adopted Copernicus’s mathematical models and was the principal scholar behind the creation of the new calendar. In 1600 when Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for being a heretic, it had nothing to do with his support of Copernican cosmology- there was no official Catholic position. Martin Luther had made comments that the heliocentric universe seemed to contradict the Bible. Protestant countries were slower to adopt the calendar and in Colonial America, territories settled by the Catholic countries of Spain; Texas, Florida, California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, and France; Mississippi, were on the Gregorian Calendar while the eastern seaboard was on the Julian calendar with Great Britain.
Augustus revised the Julian Calendar, after Julius’s death on the Ides of March. Augustus’s calendar was in effect for 16 centuries. The months were: Ianuarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilius, Maius, Inuis, Iulius, Augustus,September, October, November and December. Iulius replaced Quintilis and Augustus replaced Sextilis, giving homage to Julius and Augustus respectively. Augustus, not wanting Julius to be greater, gave both months 31 days. The calendar had had ten months before Numa Pompilius modified Romuls’s calendar in 713 BC or BCE adding two months after December, which are now the first two months. The origin of Aprilius is unknown, but the fifth month Quintilis was Latin for fifth and so up through December(the tenth) the months were numerical.
George Washington’s birth was recorded using double-dating. This was common for centuries when two calendars were in use. Article VII of the US Constitution is double dated. “Done in Convention by the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelth.” The Declaration of Independence is dated July 4, 1776, though most signed it on August 2nd. It concludes with: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.”
The Constitution, by declaring the “Unanimous Consent of the States” set aside the Articles of Confederation to form a “more perfect Union” by pointing back to the Declaration, to vindicate it, and the principles of the Revolution. Today, the Constitution is widely accepted as a purely secular document. At the time of their writings both documents were recorded in a period commonly known at the time as AD, in Latin; anno Domini, short for anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi, translated- in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ. As of late, AD is increasingly being replaced by CE, Common Era.
From dust we came, to dust we shall return.
Interesting…thank you for sharing.
Fascinating history lesson – thanks!
Isn’t this TreeHouse just great? Learn so much from so many! Thank you to all that make this possible!
Wishing everyone a very prayerful Lent. At the end of these 40 days, may we all see that our hearts are closer to Christ and more conformed to His Most Sacred Heart than they were at the beginning. What a beautiful opportunity to draw closer to our Lord!
I love this so much. Thank you Menagerie. Have a blessed Ash Wednesday.
Thank you for posting this!
When I consider the darkness all around us, I wonder how the deciples felt after Jesus’ crucifixion, and how dark that must have seemed. But “He is risen!”
God bless.
Thank you that the ashes on our forehead do not symbolize our ultimate reality. From dust we might have been formed, but our bodies, our spirits, and ourselves await beautiful redemption and the restoration of all things. Help us long and look forward to that day, and let it come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
My Priest stands in front of the train station to give ashes to people as they are heading to work. This is how I received mine this morning.
I have been purposefully quiet. Introspect. Dealing with a few things, as we all are.
We all stare in awe over the calamity over our land. Disbelief. Wondering if we can shake awake and throw off the tyranny which has overcome our children in their schools, our representatives in our government, and the flagrant abuse of the laws of our land. We stand wondering about our future… and our children’s.
God brought this to my mind today from Ezekial. If He can do this (and He Did!), can He not do this for us, as well (and He Will!)?
It is a reminder that there is nothing too plundered, nothing too destroyed, nothing too dead – that God cannot resurrect in His Good Timing and for His Glory. Case in point in modern American times, Mount St. Helens was reduced to rubble 44 years ago, and yet in its condition today… Spirit Lake rests 1,000 feet higher in elevation, and the earth blooms beauty… and life is restored there.
Can He not do the same for us? Can we TRUST HIM FULLY to do so?
We are but dry bones awaiting restoration. Lord, renew us, reassemble us, and breathe new life into our country and our people. Restore in us a vibrant and joy-filled dedication to You and an eternal devotion to live as You would have us live and to lead, as You would have us lead. You are the Alpha and the Omega… the Beginning and the End. World without end. World without end. World without end. We trust You fully with our lives and all that we hold dear.
Come, Lord Jesus, come! In Jesus’s Holy and Saving Name, AMEN
Ezekiel 37 New International Version
The Valley of Dry Bones
37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
That video.was wonderful. Thank you for sharing it.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and until the day of eternity. Amen.
Amen and may God bless you all.
In preparation for Easter during Lent, my Catholic school often heard this wonderful cantata by French composer Theodore Dubois: The Seven Last Statements of Christ*
* Usually mistranslated as “The Seven Last Words of Christ” – obviously more than 7 words are involved!
It’s a great idea to find good devotional music to listen to in Lent!
If one could wear out digital recordings, I have worn out these ones:
Settings of the Geneva Psalter:
St. Matthew Passion, Nethlands Bach Society:
[Bob Dylan has some great penitential songs also.]
Bob Dylan sold his soul. He is recorded & it’s online.
I was disappointed.
SamFox
Oh, Lord. Today’s the day when we have to see “Catholics” Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden parading in front of the cameras to show off their ashes.
Fun fact: The priest doesn’t have to use ashes for Pelosi and Biden the Holy Water sears their satanic flesh on contact. Like a vampire.
“…“Catholics” Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden…”
Ironic quotation marks are indeed necessary!
They are not Catholics, for simply by their support of infanticide have they excommunicated themselves not just from the Church, but from God Himself.
Only do certain beings rejoice at the death of a child…
We need a Priest to explain the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds. I heard a Priest once say, ‘God can transform Weeds into Wheat’ before the harvest.
Just maybe, all of good Catholics need to pray for the bad Catholics; especially before that >particular bad Catholic >chokes to death on his big scoop, ice-cream cone. [Supposedly, dementia affected old people have difficulty swallowing food.]
************************
“This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.” [The Goodbook]
The note for this passages + =
“[1:12–17] Present gratitude for the Christian apostleship leads Paul to recall an earlier time when he had been a fierce persecutor of the Christian communities (cf. Acts 26:9–11) until his conversion by intervention of divine mercy through the appearance of Jesus. This and his subsequent apostolic experience testify to the saving purpose of Jesus’ incarnation. The fact of his former ignorance of the truth has not kept the apostle from regarding himself as having been the worst of sinners (1 Tm 1:15).
……. Yet he was chosen to be an apostle, that God might manifest his firm will to save sinful humanity through Jesus Christ (1 Tm 1:16). The recounting of so great a mystery leads to a spontaneous outpouring of adoration (1 Tm 1:17).” [Copyright 2019-2024 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]
GGHD–What do you need a priest for? You can read the Bible for yourself. The parable is self explanatory.
Blessings!
SamFox
Thank you, SamFox. = The Bible is often difficult to understand. … Jesus Christ walked the Holy Lands to build a Church. Jesus did NOT carry around a big sack of Bibles saying, “Here read this Book. We just need this book, then we’ll all understand and be in one accord.” … God worked through his Church to bring us the Bible.
Philip and the Ethiopian. =
26
Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.”
27
So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28
and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.”
30
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31
He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
32
This was the scripture passage he was reading:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
33
In (his) humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will tell of his posterity?
For his life is taken from the earth.”
34
Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?”
35
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.
36
As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?”
37
38
Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.
39
When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.
40
Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
[USCCB Acts,8]
Amen! So true.
So I started my day today like every other day, by taking my blood pressure. (Yes this is going somewhere.) And everyday it is very close to the same reading. It is considered high which is why I’ve started monitoring it. (I don’t want to go on meds but may have too.) I take it twice, a few minutes apart and they are very close to the same numbers. I’ve been doing it for two weeks now.
Today I took it and the first reading was high but it was almost the exact same as the prior readings for the past two weeks.
Then while taking the second reading I was thinking about it being Ash Wednesday and I was thinking about Jesus and his sacrifice for us. I then looked outside marveling at how beautiful the day was and I just started thinking, “God is great. God is good.”
My blood pressure dropped right into the normal/ healthy range. I mean it was perfect.
Just wanted to share that today.
Just tucked your words away in my heart. Lovely post:)
While I was raised Catholic, I never actually participated in Lent, save for, of course, eating Mom’s home cooked fish dinners on Friday during Lent. Partly because of the ‘Church’ itself, which I naturally rebelled against for good reason, and partly because I had not accumulated enough life experience, I was not ready for an understanding of the life of Jesus Christ.
The season of Lent or otherwise, forgiveness, which is invoked in the Lord’s Prayer, “and forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation and delivers us from Evil,” is an act to practice, much like playing an instrument, or riding a bicycle.
The other day, I picked up the guitar and sang and played “Personal Jesus”. The line”I will deliver, you know I am a forgiver” reminded me that it would be a good opportunity to practice forgiveness, and reached out to an old friend and to try to mend fences.
Not sure why this post hit me hard. Perhaps because tomorrow morning am having surgery for cancer, third surgery in the past six months. “Rend your hearts” is the phrase that got to me. Do our hearts have to be broken before we allow Christ in? Not asking for good wishes, sympathy or prayers. But tomorrow morning, when I’m asked to focus on one word or phrase before they knock me out, I think the words will be, “Lord, here is my heart for You.”
You will be in my prayers. Get well.🙏🙏🙏
I have recently (and ever so slowly) found that, yes, our hearts must be broken before the light floods in and they are made better than new by Him. praying now for you, friend, that tomorrow will be the best day of your life. in His Healing and Holy name, amen.
🙏🏻💔🙏🏻
I had to have open carpel tunnel surgery, not the minimal endoscopic. Just before anesthesia, the surgeon came into the little room to ask if I had any questions or concerns. I told him no. Then he asked, “Would you like to have a prayer with me?” I said yes. He took my hand and said a prayer. I don’t remember what he said, but I do remember how calm and “enclosed” I felt, not just in the hands of a very capable surgeon, but literally in God’s hands.
Remember that surgeon’s name. He is a rare one, these days especially, welcoming the Lord’s guiding hand over his scalpel.
Fionnagh,
I will say a rosary for you, lol, it’s not on your list.
I am a survivor of Hurthle Cell Carcinoma of the thyroid. The rare and deadliest form of thyroid cancer.
You are not alone friend. I am right here with you.
You will be in my prayers 🙏. May God’s love surround you tomorrow..
Dear Fionnagh,
How courageous you are! You will be in my prayers.
Perhaps you are already familiar with this song and its lyrics. If not, I hope it brings comfort to you.❤
As the placement here of these groups of verses might have prompted your question as far as how often to rend one’s heart and what that would look like before approaching God, the surrounding context evidently concerned “a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness” and “a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.” Joel 2 appears to have much going on, including prophetic significance cited in Acts 2 at the Pentecost after the ascension of Jesus. Here’s what precedes the posted verses in this chapter so as to give them context:
“Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them.
“Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle. Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale. They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course. They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path.
“They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks. They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?”
Fasting despite the place it can have in the life of a believer has been a religious practice often misused, with plenty of church history and even cult history illustrating this and how it can be misunderstood, abused, or weaponized. Sadly, claims that “since this can be abused, this is how you do it right“ also may fall short as far as potentially being served up with “one size fits all” and leaning heavily on it as a commandment from God with a side of guilt that you’re sinning unless you incorporate it as a regular, expected, and even celebrated “discipline“ — or else.
The same also may go for other practices that may spring from a misguided self-denial paradigm, even getting to virtual or actual self-flagellation and so forth. Jesus warned in Matthew 6:16 (a verse that may arguably be proof-texted as the giving of a fasting commandment) about those who used such practices for the favor of men. Paul appeared to give caution doctrines of men who might weaponize them yet seek adherence via an appearance of wisdom:
Colossians 2:20-23 — “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”
Going back to the question “Do our hearts have to be broken before we allow Christ in?”,
Psalm 51:16-17 comes to mind: “You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” As this psalm from David is evidently connected with what occurred with Bathsheba and Uriah, it also brings to mind 2 Samuel 12:22-23 — “And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.””
All this is to say the priority of heart posture seems to be of importance, with what was said about offering one’s heart appearing to be in accord with that. That would appear to stand in contrast with possibly being concerned of having a particular threshold of physical manifestation of heart rending (e.g. thinking a prayer is worthless unless there are tears, convulsive sobs, etc.) or time spent scrupulously measured every single time by a minimum amount in a manner that might morph into one of those doctrines of men already referenced.
As far as a proper posture of heart and mind, there’s 1 Peter 5:6-11: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Our hearts need not necessarily be broken … only our pride and sense of self-sufficiency.
Blessings to you for a successful surgery. Been there myself.
Fionnagh, That’s a beautiful gift to offer to the Lord – your heart!
That’s what He desires from us all – a surrender to Him and His will, in total trust.
I will pray for you in the morn!
🙏🏻
Baptism is a rebirth in Christ….read Romans 6:3-5…..”Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.”
God’s peace be with you Fionnagh!
Thanks, Menagerie, for pointing us to holiness.
Fr. Brice Higginbotham is another young priest putting out some excellent catechetical material. This is the link to his video about Ash Wednesday:
Hmmm….I posted the youtube video address without linking it, then adding the address and used the link icon. They both posted the video. Obviously, I’m confused over how to post things on this site.
Fast During Lent
Fast from hurting words and say kind ones.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from pressure and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen…
… and hear the voice of Almighty God 🙏🏻🕊
Thank You… we all need the Justice and Mercy of the Lord God more than ever
Dear Menagerie,
As always, Thank You!
Might I recommend the book “God Calling,” by The Two Listeners, edited by A.J. Russell. It is set up to read January 1, January 2, January 3, etc. One of the 3 books that changed my life.
People could do well to read these cautions about that book and what it reportedly influenced:
https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/new-booklet-tract-changing-jesus-calling-damage-control-for-a-false-christ/
“God Calling is a collection of channeled messages presented in the form of a daily devotional. The messages were channeled through two English women in the 1930s and could easily have been titled Jesus Calling because it was reputedly dictated by “The Living Christ Himself.”
“The Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, published by Harvest House Christian publishers, specifically describes God Calling as a channeled New Age book. In their lengthy chapter on channeling and spiritual dictation, authors/apologists John Weldon and John Ankerberg explain that channeling is a form of New Age “mediumship” and according to the Bible it “is a practice forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).”4 Under the subheading titled “Impersonations of Christianity,” the authors describe God Calling as a New Age book “replete with denials of biblical teaching”5 as it “subtly encourages psychic development and spiritistic inspiration under the guise of Christ’s personal guidance . . . and often misinterprets Scripture.””
Lenten Talks by Archbishop Fulton Sheen
I love reading the expectation in all the messages! How Great Thou Art!
Thanks for these posts, Menagerie. Growing up Evangelical Protestant, much of the liturgical calendar, outside Christmas and Easter, tends to be ignored.
Over the course of the last few years, I’ve been adding special days from the Catholic and Orthodox calendars into my own personal walk with Christ. Especially as I come to understand their unique meaning and significance. Your posts here have played a large role in broadening my Christian experience.
Thanks again, Menagerie, and may Jesus bless you!
Thank you Menagerie. I dearly love your post. They are so informative and uplifting. Many blessings to you, from my heart to yours…💕
Thank you so much for your posts. They always resonate and inform.
I find this yearly journey helps me keep an eye on where I am going. It helps me not just tread water spiritually, but make progress, and to more “live out” the life of Christ.
There seems to be a lot of Catholics in the branches here.
Maybe not? Maybe it’s just (we) Catholics who resonate more with Ash Wednesday, so are more inclined to post comments…
I love how Lent pulls me out of my comfort zone and my sacrifices causes me to focus deeply on our Lord and Savior’s greatest sacrifice of all. All because of His great love to never want to be separated from us.
Lord I am not worthy but only say the word and I shall be healed. Amen.
This is great video explaining the biblical roots of why Catholics place ashes on our forehead and what we’re called to do as we walk the journey with our Lord over the next 40 days.
Thank you for posting this video. Minus the reference to mass, this can be used to educate youngsters in our PCA church.
Wishing you all the blessings of this season of repentance and rebirth!
Our Methodist church in Franklin TN holds an evening service for Ash Wednesday and all are welcome. The ashes come from the burning of the palm leaves that were used in last year’s Palm Sunday service.
Godbless
Very helpful. Thank you.
I found this Ash Wednesday message from Pope Benedict XVI (delivered in 2012) this morning. It’s a nice reflection of the deep meaning of 40 days that occurs throughout the Bible. A good message of why we do Lent…
https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20120222.html
wonderfully presented thank you Menagerie. We are all souls on a physical journey, walking
on the same road towards the same destination. May God bless us all. Amen
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the holiest time of year for Catholics. With these words: Paenitemini, et credite Evangelion (Repent, and believe in the Gospel) the Catholic is called to acknowledge his sinfulness and endeavor to subjugate his will completely to God’s. We sacrifice material comforts, including abstaining from most foods (no meats and fats, no eggs, no dairy products, and no sugar) for 40 days and fast on Wednesdays and Fridays with one small meal a day. Good Friday is a black fast- no food at all. We do this as reparation for sins and offenses against the Almighty, and to purify our souls to conversion. However you acknowledge this holiest of seasons, may the grace of God fill your spirit to bursting.
O crux ave, spes unica, quae salus et vita hominum! Salve, crux ave, mater misericordiae! (Hail O Cross of Mercy, Salvation of man, that art thou who are our only hope!)
May God bless us all with thegrace to grow in faith this Lent. God bless everyone and especially Sundance for giving this place.
Thank You Menagerie
Redeemer Lutheran Church in Gorham, Maine is having morning matin and evening vesper services on Wednesday and Fridays at 7am and 7pm all through Lent. The 7am matins are available via Facebook live and not an in-person service. We also have a soup and bread supper to break your Wed. fast at 5:30pm on Wednesday, so then you can stay for vespers at 7pm. Here’s a link to the calendar on the church’s website with contact info at the bottom of the page.
https://www.redeemermaine.org/calendar
God bless you and all who walk with the Lord. 🙏🏻♥️
Always love your posts, they help remind me that this world, although seemingly satan and his minions are running wild, is the Lord’s. He is in control. I need to make sure I’m always aligned with Him.