Scripture passage that caught my attention today: Deuteronomy 10:1-2 At that time the LORD said to me, “Carve out two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. 2 I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you smashed, and you shall put them in the ark.”
Observation: Moses was told to start over.
Application: Today is Ash Wednesday. As I read the passage above, the first words from a standard Ash Wednesday passage came to mind: “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart.” (Joel 2:12a). Those words “yet even now” have always captured my attention. No matter how bleak the situation, no matter how little rope seems to be left, ‘even now’ there is opportunity to return, to try again, to be welcomed all over.
As if to put an exclamation point on that statement, today’s gospel reading was the last chapter of Mark. The last chapter in each of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) has the same basic message, proclaims the same basic hope—Resurrection! New Life! Empty Tomb!
Granted, the date of Ash Wednesday varies from year to year. And so it will only be once in a while that the combination of readings encountered today will occur on Ash Wednesday again. Still, it was and is a timely reminder that, even if we find ourselves in a period of loss or disillusionment, we can by the grace of God begin again…even now…even now.
Prayer: Lord, please grant your blessings on all who find this time an appropriate time in whatever way to start over again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Deuteronomy 10-12 and Mark 16)
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