Lectio Divina - Broken Bay Institute

Lectio Divina Praying the Scriptures in Lent and Holy Week 2011 Year AMarked by AshesRuler of the Night, Guarantor of the day…This day – a gift for you.This day – like none other you have ever given, or we have ever received.This Wednesday dazzles us with gift and newness and possibilities.This Wednesday burdens us with the tasks of the day, for we arealready halfway home halfway back to committees and memos.This day has become a virtual sacrament of Catholic identity, aspeople throng churches to “get ashes,” which, paradoxically, is justwhat the Gospel counsels against – external signs of devotion.Still, Karl Rahner has captured eloquently the meaning of this sign:“When on Ash Wednesday we hear the words, ‘Remember, you aredust,’ we are also told that we are brothers and sisters of the incarnateLord. In these words we are told everything that we are: nothingnessthat is fi lled with eternity; death that teems with life; futility thatredeems; dust that is God’s life forever” (The Eternal Year, p.62)Joel 2:12-1812Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting,with weeping, and with mourning; 13 rend your hearts and not your clothing.Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, andabounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. 14 Who knows whetherhe will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering anda drink offering for the Lord, your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctifya fast; call a solemn assembly; 16 gather the people. Sanctify the congregation;assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let thebridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. 17 Between the vestibuleand the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep. Let them say, “Spareyour people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword amongthe nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”18Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.20