As we begin this time of prayer, you might like to take a moment to consciously step into this new season of Lent... perhaps you would like to mark it with a gesture of some kind...

Today is Ash Wednesday.

The Choir of Westminster Cathedral sing Allegri’s Miserere mei. ‘Have mercy on me God, in your kindness, in your compassion, blot out my offence.’

As you hear these voices making this beautiful plea for God’s mercy, look around you. Can you see the need for it? - Can you see a need for mercy here? As you look at the people around you, as you look at their faces, can you imagine what need there might be in their lives for mercy and compassion? For a few moments now, as you enter into prayer, ponder how much the world needs to hear the merciful, forgiving, compassionate word of God, and how much you need to hear it, too.

Joel 2:12-14

Yet even now, says the Lord,

return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

rend your hearts and not your clothing.

Return to the Lord, your God,

for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,

and relents from punishing.

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

a grain-offering and a drink-offering

for the Lord, your God?

The prophet Joel tells us, “Rend your hearts and not your clothing”. We are often concerned about our external appearance – how we look to other people – but God sees what is on the inside, what is in our hearts. Does this come to me as a threat,…. or as a relief?

How would I describe what is in my heart as I sit here now?

Again and again, this reading speaks of God’s forgiveness and mercy. Unlike us human beings, God can be relied on never to bear a grudge, but to embrace us in love whenever we turn to him. Do I believe in this forgiveness? Do I want this forgiveness?

As I hear this invitation to turn back to God, do I feel that need in me? Is there something that I need to turn back from, somewhere I’ve been going wrong in my life, something I want to change?

Though these words were written thousands of years ago, through them God speaks to us now. As I listen to the passage again, I hear it this time as something addressed to me - God speaking personally to me.

Joel 2:12-14

Yet even now, says the Lord,

return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

rend your hearts and not your clothing.

Return to the Lord, your God,

for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,

and relents from punishing.

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,

a grain-offering and a drink-offering

for the Lord, your God?

How do I respond, here and now, to this appeal? What do I want to say to God right now?

You have given all to me

To you, Lord, I return it

Everything is Yours, do with it what you will

Give me only Your love and Your grace

That is enough for me.