Reading I
Jl 2:12-18
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.
Reading II
2 Cor 5:20—6:2
Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:
In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
Gospel
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
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.”
Meditation: Joel 2:12-18
Ash Wednesday
Gather the people, notify the congregation, assemble the elders. (Joel 2:16)
Can you hear the urgency in the prophet’s voice? Israel is threatened by an invasion of locusts, and Joel announces that this is God’s judgment for their sin. So he calls the people to the Temple so that together they can seek the Lord in repentance and intercession.
And yet on the same day that we hear a call to come together in a very public act of prayer and repentance, the Gospel reading tells us not to let anyone know about our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Jesus wants us to do these things in secret, so that we don’t end up like “the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:2).
If we put these two readings together, we can find a road map for the whole season of Lent. During this time when we are invited to seek the Lord more deeply, our heavenly Father is giving us guidance on just how to do it.
First, as Jesus tells us in the gospel, we need to make our own individual resolutions and spend private time in prayer. But at the same time, the first reading tells us how important it is that we come together during Lent—to seek the Lord as a people, to share our journeys, and to encourage each other on the road.
How could you gather with others this Lent? The possibilities are many. You might join a small group to discuss the Sunday readings. You might agree with your household to fast or serve a simpler meal one day a week, so that you have a little more time to pray together. Who knows God might lead you to a companion who can encourage your walk with the Lord. Whatever you choose, know that Jesus is calling you this season. He wants to work wonders in all our lives!
“Father, thank you for listening to the cry of your people. Please show me the way to find Jesus, both in my personal prayer and as I gather with your people.”
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