February 14, 2024, ASH WEDNESDAY

Joel 2:12-18

Psalm 51

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Mark 6:1-6, 16-18

Have mercy on me, O God…in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.  Ps. 51:3

Yet, even now says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart…”  Joel 2:12

Lord, our road to you again enters the time of Lent.  I’ve been here before, many times.  Thank you for the next 40 days.  This is a time, an opportunity that will never come again.  This could be my last Lent, only you know.  Remove any complacency or apathy I may have.  Lord, I dearly desire for this Lent to make a difference.  I want a heart more open to you.  I want you to remove what holds me back from coming closer to you.  I plead for the blessings of mercy and forgiveness of all my mistakes and bad choices.  Lord don’t let me waste this chance to run into your arms and receive your total love.  Lead me to a new attitude, place in me a new heart, starting now, today.  Help me to rise up out of my comfort zone to new levels of love for you.  I offer you this Lent for you to make it the best ever so that on the day of your resurrection, I may be a renewed person.  Remind me on this St. Valentine’s Day of your greatest gift: yourself and the love you have for me.   Amen.