--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for Ash Wednesday, 3/9/11 description: Daily Readings Reflection for Ash Wednesday, 3/9/11 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/03/09/daily-readings-reflection-for-ash-wednesday-3911#) # Daily Readings Reflection for Ash Wednesday, 3/9/11 Mar 9, 2011 9:01:53 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Scripture: Lectionary # 220 for Ash Wednesday. Joel 2:12-18. Psalm 51:3-4,5,6ab,12-13,14.17. II Cor. 5:20-6:2. Matthew 6:1-6,16-18 [Today's Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab) New beginnings are possible for us as we start another Lent with Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Easter Sunday will have us celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus our Savior and Teacher. Ash Wed. helps us to focus on the Mystery of Jesus which is the Paschal Mysteries developed through our daily readings and in our participation in the Eucharist as often as we can. These mysteries are his life, sufferings, death, and resurrection; his glorification at the right hand of God is also part of these mysteries. We do well to keep the Passion, Death, and Resurrection in mind and memory during these days of Lent. In a practical way the Gospel for today gives us a lead as to how to do something spiritual for Lent. Three simple words from the Sermon on the Mount are given to us by Jesus: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (sharing of our goods). They are also three of the five pillars of Islam and are part of the Jewish practices handed down to us from Jesus. In a sense we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and daily die to some of our selfish motives, sensual desires and acts, and anything whereby we hurt our neighbor by word, deed, or action. The commandments are always there for us as a quick review of the more important responsibilities toward God and neighbor. Each year the Church gives us the same readings for the Lenten days. This does not mean we are to be in a rut with our understanding and embracing their message. Each Lent should see us being more mature and integrated in our spiritual life and its practices. If we are the same as last year regarding the readings and the practices, we need to give some extra effort this year so as to make progress in our growth into the Lord Jesus Christ. Joel always is a clarion call to wake up and to pray, fast, and to give of ourselves. It is a prophetic announcement that helps us make of the ashes we see a symbol of our willingness to die to self a little each day. We are again introduced by the readings to our ancestors who enjoyed the covenant and the message of God's loving-kindness (hesed) and truth (emeth). Our openness of heart should match theirs so that we can experience the compassion and tenderness of God. We do this in a spirit of renewal and reconciliation with those we have hurt by word or deed. Jesus summons us to be reasonable about our prayer and fasting. He always frames his sermons with the bigger picture of God's love and we can get to know that love by being charitable and loving toward others and also loving ourselves as God would have us do. The Mysteries of Christ are that framework for this Lent. They will help us make sense of a new way of praying, fasting, and giving of ourselves. Amen. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F03%2F09%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-ash-wednesday-3911%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F03%2F09%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-ash-wednesday-3911%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F03%2F09%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-ash-wednesday-3911%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Readings%20Reflection%20for%20Ash%20Wednesday%2C%203%2F9%2F11) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F03%2F09%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-ash-wednesday-3911%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F03%2F09%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-ash-wednesday-3911%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Readings Reflection for 10/9/10 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/10/09/daily-readings-reflection-for-10910-2) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 2/9/11 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/02/09/daily-readings-reflection-for-2911) [ Daily Readings Reflection for 11/09/10 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/11/09/daily-readings-reflection-for-110910) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.