Reflection from Rev Barb Lemmel on Ash Wednesday 2025
TORAH -- Genesis 2
The Lord God formed the human one (adam) from the dust ofthe ground (adamah), and breathed into its nostrils the ruach,the breath of life; and the human one became nephesh, aliving being . . .
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the gardenat the time of the evening breeze, and the man (Ish) and thewoman (Isha) hid themselves from the presence of the LordGod among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God calledto the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘Iheard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid,because I was naked; and I hid myself.’
PROPHETS -- Isaiah 58:6-8Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds ofinjustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressedgo free, and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring thehomeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, tocover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and yourhealing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall gobefore you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cryfor help, and he will say, Here I am.
