Ash Wednesday (Year C)

First Reading - Daniel 9.3-6,17-19

A reading from the book of Daniel. With Jerusalem lying in ruins, I, Daniel, turned to the Lord God to plead in prayer, with fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, making confession, and saying, ‘O Lord, great and awesome God, you keep your covenant, in steadfast love, towards those who love you, and keep your commandments. But we have sinned, and done wrong. We have acted wickedly, and rebelled. We have turned aside from your commandments and decrees. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who have spoken in your name, in every generation. O Lord our God, hear the prayer of your servant; and for your own sake, O Lord, look with pity upon the desolate ruins of your holy temple. Hear my cry, O Lord our God, and look upon the desolation of the people, and the city, that bear your name. In this our plea, we trust not in our righteousness, but in your great mercy. Hear, O Lord, and forgive; and for your own sake, O Lord my God, act, and do not delay; for the city, and the people, bear your name.’ This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - Philippians 2.12-15

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians. I know that you have continued to trust in all that I was able to teach you while I was with you, and that you continue to commit yourselves to walking in the way of salvation. Always do so with humility, honouring both the power and the majesty of God. For it is God who is at work within you: it is God who gives you both the desire and the strength to do God’s will.

So avoid complaint and dispute, and you will be innocent and uncorrupted children of God, shining as lights in the darkness of this wicked and corrupt generation. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - John 8.2-11

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Early in the morning, Jesus came again to the temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down, and began to teach them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought to him a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand there, in front of all the people, they said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What do you say?’ They said this to test Jesus, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down, and wrote, with his finger, on the ground. As they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.’ And once again, he bent down and wrote on the ground. Having heard these words they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing there. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go on your way, and do not sin again.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.