Ash Wednesday, We Are to Be Reconcilers and New Creations In Christ

2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-6:1 English Standard Version (ESV)

16 FROM NOW ON, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 6 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

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Those of us in Christ are a new creation and charged with the task of spreading the Good News of Christ and being ambassadors for and of this amazing new creation. We give thanks on this Ash Wednesday that Christ engaged with the brokenness of our world on our behalf.

COLLECT FOR THE DAY Almighty and everylasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness. may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

 (Collect for Ash Wednesday)