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A Series of Lenten Reflections: Ash Wednesday

Pure Ash

"Be careful not to parade your good deeds...this is what the hypocrites do to win people's admiration...do not imitate the hypocrites." (Matthew 6)

Reflect

Remember when you were a child in school (or an adult at a lecture) and you had a question, but you thought it would sound dumb so you kept quiet and let on that you understood what the teacher was talking about? What was within you was not what appeared.

But the very last thing any of us wants to be called is a "hypocrite." It implies that we are found out in a certain dishonesty or at least a certain blindness.

Yet there is little doubt that there is a bit of hypocrisy in every one of us. Who of us is completely pure of heart and motive?

Respond

Perhaps this Lent we might try to be simpler, a little less posed, a little more down to basic ingredients like the pure ash. We might offer to God our fear of being seen as we are.

Pray

Lord, you know me and love me as I am. Help me today to be gently honest with myself and before you. Help me not to fear the truth of my being. It is you who said that the truth will set me free. Like the blind man or Peter in the boat, I will "throw off my cloak" to run to you.

For other prayers, see this page