Called to Be Ambassadors for Christ! To Show Others His Grace and How He Offers Us Forgiveness and Eternal Life in Heaven with Him!

 



 Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, 
does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

-Romans 6:15

We are called to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ! We are here as Christians to show others, be disciples, let people know that God offers grace to us all. He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins, He loves us and He forgives us. He is offering each one of us eternal life in Heaven with Him! All we need to do is follow Him. Abide by His laws, commandments, the teachings of Jesus, to be people of goodwill while here on Earth! Why is it so hard for so many people to do this? To follow Christ? We all need to be ambassadors for Jesus! We need to help others, forgive, pray for others, be good people, give alms, fast, and pray for others! God wants us to turn from sin! He does not want us to sin. We have the 10 Commandments, we have the Bible, we have the teachings of Jesus, all telling us how we need to behave in society and with others. We are all sinners, but we do not have to be. Turn from sin! Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned! We see so many today, especially our government, elected, and so-called leaders all becoming slaves to the devil, following him, not God, slaves of satan. We need to resist. As human beings, as Christians, we are called! Called to be ambassadors to Jesus! During this time of Lent, that ash cross that was put on our heads today means something, we are ambassadors to Jesus, to share of His grace, His love, His forgiveness for us and to offer the promise He has for us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven if we follow Him! What a blessing from God! 


Ash Wednesday

 



Reading 1
Joel 2:12-18

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?'"
Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.




Responsorial Psalm
Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
R. (see 3a)  Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.



Reading 2
2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2

Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:
In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.




Verse Before the Gospel
See Ps 95:8
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.


Gospel
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."








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