Ash Wednesday | Wednesday 22 February 2023

Today is Wednesday the 22nd of February, Ash Wednesday.

The Choir of Royal Holloway sings ‘From Dust’ by George Arthur.


From dust I rise,
And out of nothing now awake;
These brighter regions which salute mine eyes,
A gift from God I take.
The earth, the seas, the light, the day, the skies,
The sun and stars are mine if those I prize.
A stranger here
Strange things doth meet, strange glories see;
Strange treasures lodged in this fair world appear,
Strange all and new to me;
But that they mine should be, who nothing was,
That strangest is of all, yet brought to pass.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.


Matt 6:1-6,16-18

‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Today is Ash Wednesday when we start the long journey through Lent to Easter. What are you proposing to do to mark this time? This first paragraph talks about “giving alms”. How is it telling us to go about this task? Might this be a good thing for you to do during Lent?

‘But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.’

This second paragraph has to do with prayer. How might this passage help you in your prayer life and prayer posture during this Lenten season?

For many people, Lent, which begins today, is seen as a time of fasting. Are you thinking of fasting during this time? If so, how might this third passage help you in that endeavour?

Now listen as the passage is read to you once more. Is there anything that really strikes you?

Now try to gather together all the thoughts that have come to you during this period, and turn them into a prayer to God.

You have given all to me, to You, Lord, I return it.
Everything is Yours, do with it what you will.
Give me only Your love and Your grace,
That is enough for me.
Amen.