Hope among the ashes

Take a moment to reflect

It always begins in ashes as the human being turns again to God. As much as we would like to think that we have earned another starting point, each year we are seemingly returned to the start - if for no other reason than to relearn that God is God and we are not. God is life, and by contrast, we are ash. 

We stand in contrast to the One who is breathing his life into us in the very same way as he did to the first 'Adam'. God offers to gather up the dust of our lives and, if we would only let him, to imbue what we call 'ourselves' with his Holy Spirit (Genesis 2:7).

We start this season in ash, but will end in an experience of life and light that, if we could only embrace it, would progressively and insistently transform who we are. For that is the journey that we are on, the journey from dust and ash and on to life and love as the Spirit-filled sons and daughters of God.

Prayer for the day

Graceful and merciful God, I give thanks for your loving presence with me as I begin this Lenten journey. Help my heart and mind to be attentive to you so that my life is renewed, and I can give all that I am and all that I do over to you. Amen