Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019

BIBLE = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth 

In the Roman Rite, the beginning of the forty days of penance is marked with ashes that are blessed during Mass. The ashes are made by the burning of palms from last year's Palm Sunday -- palms that were waved in victory and praise.  After we leave the church, we leave the ashes on our foreheads until they wear off naturally from the course of the day's activities. They are a public witness to those things our society does not wish to embrace: the reality of death, penance for sin, and the hope of resurrection in Our Lord, Jesus Christ.  The Alleluia and the Gloria are suppressed until Easter.  Abstinence from eating meat is to be observed on all Fridays (Wednesdays in the Middle East) during Lent.

Scripture ...
Luke 22:1

Reflection ...

The backdrop for our Lenten journey is the Jewish Passover. Long before Jesus’ day this Jewish festival enjoyed a rich, long history, dating back to the time of the Exodus when God delivered His people Israel from slavery in Egypt.

The Passover was the tenth and final plague God brought upon Egypt. Since Egypt’s leader, Pharaoh, had stubbornly refused to obey His command to free the Israelites, at midnight God would send a destroying angel to pass throughout the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn children, including Pharaoh’s own heir.

But in love, God provided a way to escape this devastating plague. A lamb could be slain in place of the firstborn and its blood spread over the door frame of the house. When the angel of death reached a blood-marked house, God would command it to pass over and leave the firstborn unharmed.

Now we join Jesus as He prepares to celebrate His last Passover festival. While reminding His followers of that first great deliverance, He prepares to accomplish an even greater deliverance by sacrificing Himself and shedding His own blood on the cross of Calvary. All who believe in Him are marked by His blood and He will command the angel of death to pass over all believers who are marked in His blood by faith.

Prayer ...

Lord Jesus, Passover Lamb of God, thank You for offering Your own body and blood to deliver us from the angel of death. During this Lenten season deepen my appreciation for Your great sacrifice that I may be so thankful I won’t be able keep the glorious news to myself. Amen.

Lenten Challenge for today …

Take nothing to eat between meals today.  By reducing our consumption, let us pray that there will be more for everybody to eat.  For those without bread, that they will be fed, and for those who have bread, that they will hunger for God.

Hymn - I Stand in Awe of You …

Quiz Time …

1. Click the correct option.

2. Click Submit

3. Scroll up and click View Accuracy to see your result.

4. Have fun while you learn your faith.

Credits:

Thanks to various sites for the ideas .  I have tailored the materials accordingly to suit my needs.

Countdown calendar - https://www.timeanddate.com/clocks/freecountdown.html

Reflections and prayer – https://www.lhm.org/

Luke 22 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttt4pQe_zFE