Friday after Ash Wednesday

Friday after Ash Wednesday – February 28, 2020 – Job 42:6

  

[1]

By Thine hour of dire despair,

By Thine agony of prayer,

    By the cross, the nail, the thorn,

    Piercing spear, and torturing scorn,

By the gloom that veiled the skies

O’er the dreadful sacrifice,

    Listen to our humble sigh;

    Hear our penitential cry! [2] 

Once confronted with his sin, Job is reduced to two simple words, “I repent.” Job makes a true confession as he comes clean before God. “I am deeply distressed on account of the imaginations of my heart, the words of my tongue, and the acts of my life. I roll myself in the dust, and sprinkle ashes upon my head.” Job is now sufficiently humbled.

In Lent, we’re confronted with the enormity of our sin. We consider the consequence of our life. It caused Jesus to pay the ultimate price for our transgressions. Yet beyond Jesus’ agony and suffering a greater good has come. The Lord considered Jesus innocent pain and death. The Father took notice of Jesus torment and affliction. In exchange for our transgressions the Lord grants us forgiveness and life.

God speaks to man: by His word and through suffering. Suffering is not punishment for our sin rather its aim is that our faith might be refined. The Lord can use suffering as a means to refine and strengthen us. Peter explains,  “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6–7)     

We beseech Thee, O Lord God, to turn Thy face from our sins, and to blot out all our transgressions; and as the publican, who stood afar off, was heard in his humility, so hear us not for our own merits, but for the merits of Him who, being co-equal with Thee, His Father, yet for our sakes took upon Him the form of a servant, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen [3] 

Support us, O Lord, with Your gracious favor through the fast we have begun; that as we observe it by bodily self-denial, so we may fulfill it with inner sincerity of heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. [4] 

1 Image:  Job is tested, Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for personal and congregational use

 2 Savior when in dust to Thee, Lutheran Service Book (c0 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 3 A Lenten Prayer, © 2005 Lutheran Liturgical Prayer Brotherhood

 4 Collect for Friday after Ash Wednesday, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm