Ash Wednesday & Valentine’s Day 2024

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 2 Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10 John 8: 1 – 11

The last two times that Ash Wednesday has coincided with Valentine’s Day was 2018 and before that, 1945.

This day in popular culture is associated with indulging with a loved one in champagne, chocolates and red roses and this year it also coincides with the beginning of a season of fasting, praying, self-denial and repentance.

Who was St Valentine? There were at least two Valentines: one lived in the 3rdcentury and went against Emperor Claudius’ wishes to stamp out Christianity andhave everyone revert to paganism. He forbade Christian priests and bishops to conduct Christian marriage services. Bishop Valentine refused and was arrested. In Rome, in 269AD, the night before his execution, he wrote a letter to his jailor’s daughter, who he learned was blind. The next day, after he had been killed, the daughter was given the letter, which she could now read, because she had been healed.

Red is the colour of the blood of the martyr Valentine.

Red is the colour of roses given on Valentine’s Day.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent, and looks ahead to the cross. Yet, with our perspective we know that the Resurrection follows the crucifixion. New life follows death.

New life follows forgiveness and turning from our sin – the Gospel reading is of the woman caught in adultery, whom Jesus forgives and affirms.

There is new life for those who are in Christ, as we take the message and ministry of God’s reconciling the world to himself in Christ, where we become God’s ambassadors – the righteousness of God, which Paul writes about in the Epistle for today.

It was for love of God that kept Valentine faithful to the end.

It was for love of us and of his Father that kept Jesus faithful to the end.

Whether you choose to raise a glass with a loved one this evening or sip a glass of water, if you do it in love, putting God first, you will be keeping the spirit of Valentine’s Day - and of the beginning of Lent - alive.

The Revd Christina Rees