Thursday, February 07, 2008

Ash Wednesday

Today I went to 2 Ash Wednesday services. One at noon, at St. James' Anglican Church, and the other in the evening, at my home church at St. John's Shaughnessy. Both services were excellent, though very different.

The liturgy at St. James' placed much emphasis on the sacraments, whereas at St. John's the word was at the centre. If only we could focus on both equally. Why one at the expense of the other?

Regardless, at both services I was reminded of my mortality: "From dust you were made, and to dust you shall return".

So with this day the season of Lent begins, 40 days focused on repentance and spiritual renewal, leading to a climax on Holy Week, with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Vigil on Saturday, and of course, the glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday.

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