Ash Wednesday

March 2, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
   who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
   my God, in whom I trust.’
Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
   the Most High your dwelling-place,
no evil shall befall you,
   no scourge come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
   so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder,
   the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

Those who love me, I will deliver;
   I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them;
   I will be with them in trouble,
   I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them,
   and show them my salvation.

As I read this scripture my heart went out to the people of Ukraine. It is an appropriate scripture for Ash Wednesday when we begin the preparation of the observance of Jesus’s death and resurrection. I also am reminded of the Jesus Wept statue located at the Oklahoma City memorial site. No doubt Christ is weeping now for all God’s children who are in harm’s way or separated from their families seeking refuge because of greed and lust for power that is running amok in the world.

Prayer: Lord, help us pray this hymn with the people of Ukraine as they struggle for their lives in search of their futures:

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness;
make thy way plain before my face.
For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord, only,
that makest me dwell in safety*.

*See at https://hymnary.org/text/lead_me_lord_lead_me_in_thy_right

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.