 |
Photo by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+
Azaleas Hidden in The Woods
|
Ash Wednesday Meditation
the first day
of the Pre-Passover Preparations
for the sacrifice of the Passover LAMB+
commonly known as "Lent"
The Collect from
The Book of Common Prayer...
Almighty and everlasting GOD,
Who hatest nothing that THOU hast made,
and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent;
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we,
worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of THEE, The GOD of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.
Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Leviticus 17:11
For the Life of the flesh is in the BLOOD, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an ATONEMENT for your souls; for it is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul.
QUIETUDE: A time to Reflect about the BLOOD+
RESPONSE:
Worthy is The LAMB+.
Worthy is The LAMB+.
WORTHY is The LAMB+ that was slain,
to receive power and riches and wisdom
and strength and honor and glory
and blessing!
Amen.
Lesson from the Epistles: 2 Corinthians 5:9,10
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent to be well pleasing to HIM+.
For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
QUIETUDE: A time to repent.
RESPONSE:
LORD, have mercy upon us.
CHRIST, have mercy upon us.
LORD, have mercy upon us.
And let not the enemy exact upon us,
for our trust is in THEE+.
AMEN.
The GOSPEL Lesson: Mark 9:43- 44 ~ ~ ~
The Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST ~ ~ ~
"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into LIFE maimed,
rather than having two hands,
to go into Hell,
... into the fire that never shall be quenched,
... where their worm dieth not
and the fire is not quenched."
The WORD of The LORD.
THANKS BE TO GOD !
Meditation ~ ~ ~
Just how AWFUL is sin ... to you ? Your sin is worse than others' sins, you know. Do you hate sin in your life so badly that you are willing to cut off your own hand rather than to keep sinning ?
Few of us are willing to do this.
Yet, the Promise of Life to those who hate their own sin rightfully is this: your hand will be RESTORED WHOLE again when you Enter the Kingdom of Life Eternal with JESUS ! You will lose nothing that you have discarded in fighting your own sinful flesh when you pass into the Heavenlies. You will be rewarded for every stand you have taken against your own sin.
As a matter of fact, you WIN !
Let us pray:
O Gracious Heavenly FATHER, in the Name of Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS CHRIST, WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+ endured the Cross, I come to THEE, afraid of the consequences of my own sin in my own life.
I have not loved THEE+ as I ought.
I have not forsaken all.
I have harbored things in my heart
that I KNOW are unworthy of a follower of THEE+.
I have lifted up my "know-it-all" spirit
and done presumptuous sin.
I acknowledge myself to be in need of Thy+ cleansing
and reformation power.
O, LORD, I am in desperate need of Thy+ cleansing. Change me, O LORD. Have mercy upon me. Extend Thy+ mercy with Thy+ Cleansing BLOOD unto me, a sinner.
This I pray in The Sight of The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT.
Amen.
