Return to the Lord: Reflections on the Readings for Ash Wednesday 2026

If you haven’t already read the readings you can find them here.

Joel 2:12-18
Psalm 51
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

With Ash Wednesday we enter the season of Lent, forty days (Sundays don’t count in this numbering of Lenten days) of self-sacrifice and prayer. Lent recalls the forty days Jesus spent in the desert preparing to be tempted by the devil, thus this is a time of preparation for us as well. Through Lent we not only prepare for Easter, but it is a time for us to renew and reinforce our connection to Jesus and our faith. It is an enhanced period of spiritual growth to strengthen us in our spiritual warfare. St. Paul tells us, “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12) Unfortunately the Church does not use this reading in its selections for Sundays throughout the year and so many downplay or ignore the evil that assaults us daily.

Lent is an opportunity to cleanse ourselves of the distractions and concerns of the secular world which surrounds us. As Pope Leo recently wrote to priests in Spain telling them (and us) that they should be characterized by being “in the world but not of the world.” Recall that Jesus has called us out of the world (John 15:19). Similarly, St. James admonishes, “Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) Lent is a time for us to reflect on how we have been deceived by the world and to renew our trust in God.

As we do with Lent, Joel tells us to proclaim a fast. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. He calls us to acknowledge our sinfulness by making offerings and libations to the Lord. This calls for a change of heart. Similarly, during Lent we are called to sacrifice on behalf of others in the form of alms, prayers, and good works. These are things that are pleasing to the Lord and, as in this reading, will get His attention.

These things also signify a change of heart, a continuance of our conversion which is a lifelong process. In a recent homily I heard the priest noted that if we are standing still in our spiritual life then in reality we are going backward and the devil is winning. And this conversion should not be half-hearted; being Catholic is a commitment to God.

As Joel notes, this is a time not only for individual repentance but for the Church at large. “Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, and say, ‘Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach’ ...” God is merciful and patient and gives us time (and ample opportunity) to return to Him. But it is up to us to make the effort. Lent is a time to concentrate our efforts.

The responsorial psalm explicitly acknowledges our sinfulness and desire for mercy from the Lord. “I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: ‘Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.’” God’s salvation brings joy. We know that we cannot do it on our own and so the psalmist asks, “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.” Acknowledging our sinfulness is a step towards humility, the need for which is downplayed or even denied in today’s world. However, recent readings from the Sundays leading up to Lent have emphasized its importance. If we are truly humble we will praise the Lord (as opposed to ourselves).

Sounding much like Joel, St. Paul also tells us to “be reconciled to God.” He tells us that “now is a very acceptable time.” Don’t put off your return to God. Again, this is the positive message of Lent. Use this time to return to God and His mercy. Some view Lent as burden when in reality it is an opportunity.

If we are truly followers of Jesus, we will be ambassadors for Christ. And, in a call to the whole Church, Paul exhorts us to work together. In a similar way, the gospel acclamations charges, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

The importance of humility is once again the focus of the gospel reading. As an example of what not to do Jesus tells His followers (which includes us) “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them ...” He tells us not to be “like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them.” God sees into our hearts, and He is the one we need to impress, not those around us. For this reason Jesus tells us that we should pray in private.

This does not take away from group prayer which is also important. Jesus said that “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” But here He tells us to pray in private. God sees us there as well as in public. It gives us an opportunity to concentrate more fully on our prayer and for our need for help from God in everything that we do. ““I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, emphasis added.)

Community prayer signifies our unity with Christ and with others (communion of saints). At the same time, private prayer is important because it is between you and the Father (all prayer goes to the Father, through Jesus) and does not try to make you look “better” or more religious in the eyes of others.

This will also lead to a better understanding of ourselves and our sinfulness. C.S. Lewis, in his classic, The Screwtape Letters, notes that the devil doesn’t want us (his “patients”) to gain such self-awareness. As he notes, repentance and humility are fruits (products) of real introspection.

The Lord encourages us to repent, and Lent is an important opportunity for that. He gives us time to return to Him, but it is not without limit. As Saint Peter noted, “The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

“Never will we understand the value of time better than when our last hour is at hand.” St. Arnold Janssen