Ash Wednesday: "Return to Me"

Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the first day of Lent, the forty-day season of reflectionbefore Easter. Ashes placed on the forehead serve as a reminder that while God considers us the crown of creation, everyone with mortal flesh is also a dustling.

A biblical text commonly associated with Ash Wednesday is Joel 2:12-13: "Even now," declares the LORD, "returnto me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend yourheart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious andcompassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sendingcalamity."