2026/02/22 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
First Sunday of Lent
- Jeremy Kiolbassa, Director of Liturgy & Music
Lent has begun! As we begin this journey together, we will reflect together on our parish theme: Fearless: wrapped in God’s mercy. With this in mind I feel called to reflect on Psalm 51, which is sung on both Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent. “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” The church places this simple plea on our lips to begin our Lenten journey. As ashes marked our foreheads, we heard, “remember that you are dust,” which brought into focus our human frailty, fear, and weakness. We are, truly, in need of mercy. Yet we do not stand alone.
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.
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.”
At first, the Psalm focuses on our sinfulness. Lent is a time for reflection, and taking stock of our sins and faults is part of this. The psalmist does not hide in fear, he confronts his sins without fear. As Fr. Radley mentioned in his homily on Ash Wednesday, there is courage and healing in confession. This can take the form of the sacrament of Reconciliation, or the confrontation of our problems head on. In both cases, we are called to confront our sins, own up to them, and seek forgiveness, even if we are afraid to do so.
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.
As the psalmist continues, the focus begins to shift. In addition to acknowledgment of sin, he asks for transformation. This request is at the heart of the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality, but Lent reveals God’s power to recreate us. The God who formed Adam from the dust can reform our hearts from the ashes.
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.
Joy may seem antithetical to Lent. It is a time for reflection penitence, yes; but these things are not an end in themselves. Our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are meant to prepare us for the joy of our salvation. Just as Jesus suffered in the dessert and on the Cross before his Resurrection, so must we prepare ourselves to join him in heavenly glory, especially during Lent. We know that his mercy is boundless and wraps us like a blanket. Still, we must also do our part. Empowered by this mercy, we are called to be fearless in our quest for reconciliation and healing. Just as the Psalmist confronts his sins and trusts in God’s healing power, so must we live with fearlessness and trust. This this could be as simple as going to confession or as daunting as trying to heal a friendship that we have damaged. Wherever our Lenten journey leads, we are called to wrap ourselves in Christ’s mercy and go forth without fear.