Ash Wednesday

As we begin this Lenten season, we once again hear that call to return to the Lord, our God. God says, “Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments” (Joel 2:12–13). Once again, we return from our wandering to our gracious and merciful God who has paved the way for us to be reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus. “For our sake He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Because of Jesus, our heavenly Father rewards us with the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of righteous service in His name.