Ash Wednesday at Noon |March 5, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. | St. Dunstan's |CV CA

Ash Wednesday at Noon |March 5, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. | St. Dunstan's | St. Dunstan's |Carmel Valley CA The appointed readings for Ash Wednesday collectively establish a contemplative and penitential atmosphere, inviting believers into the solemnity of Lent with themes of repentance, humility, and renewal. Isaiah 58:1-12 Critiques superficial fasting and highlights God's true desires: justice, mercy, and care for the vulnerable. It invites believers to embody a fast that breaks oppression and fosters generosity, ultimately leading to spiritual renewal and God's guidance. 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Appeals for reconciliation with God, urging believers not to receive God’s grace in vain. Paul reflects on the paradoxes of the Christian journey—sorrow yet rejoicing, poverty yet enriching others—all in faithful service to Christ. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Focuses on genuine devotion, cautioning against performative acts of piety. Jesus emphasizes sincerity in giving, prayer, and fasting, and calls for storing treasures in heaven, where the heart finds its true focus. Psalm 103 (or 103:8-14) Exalts God's mercy and compassion, reminding believers of God’s readiness to forgive and His understanding of human frailty. It sets a tone of gratitude for God's steadfast love. Together, these readings urge the faithful to embrace Lent as a season of genuine repentance, compassionate action, and inward renewal, marking the journey toward the hope and resurrection of Easter. THE COLLECT