Ash Wednesday

Here is my wife Beth's devotion for our church today. 

Rest for Our Souls

Devotion February 17

There are verses of scripture that, in their reading and speaking, almost instantly create a sense of calm and courage. I think of the words of the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want” or the 27th Psalm, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

Romans 5 opens with this comforting passage: “And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

Truly, the scripture for this Ash Wednesday may be the most memorable of these passages of healing and comfort for me. I type Jesus’ words, and relief pours over me:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

My soul needs rest. I am weary, and I often feel the weight of a heavy burden. These past months have been difficult for each of us and those for whom we are responsible. Hurts, seemingly without healing, have been endured. Harm has come to health, to livelihoods, to the fundamental fabric of community and society. So much is broken and feels far from repair.

Our well of optimism runs dry. Our bones are weary. The vessel with which we carry our hope and care for one another is cracked, if not shattered. We know that we need to be healed and to recover our capacity to bring healing and recovery to the world. “I lift my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121: 1-2).

It is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of Lent. This year I feel keenly the need for Lent, for the time of contemplation, prayer, devotion, and reflection, for recognizing and calling out my need for healing and restoration and for naming its source. It is the time to take up Jesus’ yoke in order to learn from him, joining my life more fully to his, to find rest for my soul.

Let us not rush through this season, but linger in the time to refresh our spirit, commune with one another, and regain the fullness of spirit that is drawn “from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.”

Amen