Simply the Sermon for February 18, 2026: Ash Wednesday

Our Bible texts for Feb. 18, 2026, Ash Wednesday are: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.

On Ash Wednesday we begin the forty-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust re-traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.

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