Ash Wednesday MASS - March 5th 2025. Weekday Solemnity-
Readings for Ash Wednesday Mass -
First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Psalm: Ps 50:3-6. 12-14. 17. "Be Merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned."
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2
Gospel Acclamation: cf Ps 94:8 "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory! If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!"
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18
Homily
Blessing and Distribution of Ashes
Distribution of Ashes
Prayer of the Faithful
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To listen to the audio recording of the readings, prayers and reflections for Ash Wednesday, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/fhl-ash-wednesday-2025-weekday-solemnity/s-YuLarEjLeuF
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Prologue - Welcome as we gather to mark the beginning of the season of Lent… 40 days of prayer, penance and self-denial (reminding us of Our Lord's forty days in the wilderness), and to prepare us for the renewal and new life celebrated in the Easter season. –
Ashes, a symbol of destruction, death, and desolation, are an ancient Judeo-Christian symbol of our journey from death to new life….
We use the ashes from old burnt palm branches that were used in the Palm Sunday Masses last year.
When we think about Lent, we generally think of giving something up - a kind of 'dying' to self. But the readings for this day suggest that Lent is about beginnings: coming to new life, deepening our relationship with God and others, and transforming who we are and how we live. (2)
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Homily: (2025) Fr Paul.
We gather reverently today to reflect on the significance of Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season we've now begun. While Ash Wednesday is neither a Sunday nor a holy day of obligation, it draws crowds in churches across Australia and the globe.
Why is this day so profoundly meaningful, even for those who may not identify as Catholic? I believe it's because we all share a deep yearning to be marked by ashes, a powerful symbol of repentance, new beginnings and our genuine need for God's boundless love, grace and mercy.
The ashes we receive are made from last year's palm leaves, remnants of Palm Sunday. This transformation from bright, vibrant palms to lifeless ash serves as a poignant metaphor for our own journey. We begin Lent with a sign of death, reminding us that through this death we can embark on a path towards new life in Christ.
When we think of Lent, we often focus on the idea of giving something up. This act symbolises a dying to oneself. However, today's readings remind us that merely giving up something cannot be the ultimate goal.
Lent is not just an end, it's about new beginnings, allowing God to help us to come to new life, to deepen our relationships with God and one another, and to transform who we are and how we live. So why we engage in Lenten practices such as almsgiving, prayer and fasting, it's not for the fleeting recognition of others, but for the lasting reward of God's transformative grace. Our acts of penance are an invitation to return to God with our whole heart, leading to deeper connections with him and with one another.
An anonymous writer beautifully captures this sentiment. Let today be the end of who we have been and the beginning of what God has called us to become. This is a wonderful call to embrace the transformative power of this season.
Pope Francis offers practical suggestions for our Lenten journey. He reminds us that it's never too late to give something up, and we can even change our fasting intentions as needed. He encourages us to enter into a different and surprising kind of fasting and abstinence.
He suggests we fast from negative words, and embrace kindness instead, to let go of sadness and cultivate gratitude, and also to replace anger with patience. These acts of fasting are not merely about self-denial, but about nurturing a heart that reflects God's love. I reflect on my own pilgrimage experience to the Holy Land several years ago, in a time sadly that was much more stable and peaceful than today, and it wrenches tears and tears our hearts to say that.
In Jordan, the country right next to Israel, I recall the profound moment at the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Following this moment of divine affirmation, Jesus was then led immediately into the wilderness for 40 days. This tells us that the love and favor of our Heavenly Father sustains us, freeing us from the need for earthly validation.
In the wilderness, Jesus deepened his connection to his Heavenly Father, rejecting everything and anything that was not aligned with his Father's will. Lent invites us to engage in acts of love, kindness, and practical charity and mercy, without expecting a return. It's about creating a pattern of living that extends beyond these 40 days, fostering habits that draw us nearer to God and to one another.
Pope Francis reminds us that during Lent we should seek to simplify our lives, shedding the burdens that weigh us down. He emphasizes that the ashes we receive are a reminder of life's passing nature. Earthly possessions fade away, but our spirit, our connection to God, remains eternal.
As we enter this sacred season, let's ask ourselves, am I living for the fleeting dust of this world, or for the enduring fire of God's love, now and in the next life? May this Lenten time be a wonderful season of renewal, inviting us to deepen our relationship with God, and so to reflect his love in our daily lives.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
+ Quotes from the commentary section in : "Liturgia" © Copyright Liturgy Brisbane 2020.
Pope Francis on giving up for Lent,,... similar in theme to this message: https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/03/give-up-gossiping-for-lent-pope-suggests/
https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/gwUmPCWUIm0GspDlENmW/first-century-palestine-a-faithful-godfearer-closes-the-door-to-his-private-room-and-prays-secretly-?ru=Paul-Evangelion
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
{{May God's Spirit of Wisdom and Awe abide in you.}}
(no penitential rite, as the ashes – given later – are the penitential act on this day).
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After the Homily -
(as placed on the forehead.. the minister says: - ):
"Repent, and believe in the Gospel."
Or alternatively:
"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
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Memorial Acclamation
Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
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Preface: Lent III
Eucharist Prayer II
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{my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this time of reflection, prayer and praise.}
Dismissal:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney, Australia).
-Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy," inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020
[ Production - KER - 2025]
May God bless and keep you.
