Ash Wednesday Reflection by Rev. Barb Lemmel on March 5, 2025

TORAH -- Genesis 2 The Lord God formed the human one (adam) from the dust of the ground (adamah), and breathed into its nostrils the ruach, the breath of life; and the human one became nephesh, a living being... They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man (Ish) and the woman (Isha) hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ PROPHETS -- Isaiah 58:6-8 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of iinjustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.