Mercy on Ash Wednesday

I did morning chores in the light of late dawn before the sun actually rose today. Each time I looked to the east I saw a pillar of light straight up from the horizon. Interesting. I've never seen the sunrise look quite like that. Twenty minutes later I was praying the morning prayer of the Church. For Ash Wednesday we look at our sinfulness:


"Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. 
In your compassion blot out my offense. 
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin

My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done."

~Psalm 51

As I finished this first psalm of morning prayer and looked out the window again, I noticed the pillar was still there. And this time it struck me. The pillar is red and white, side by side, just like the picture of Divine Mercy where the red and white light pours forth from Jesus' heart.

image from newjerusalem.com

used with permission

When I went outside to take a photo I discovered the pillar to be one side of a sun dog. Now, an hour after first seeing it, that red and white pillar is still faintly visible. What a beautiful start to Lent, to be reminded of God's mercy right from the beginning.

The last psalm of today's morning prayer ends:


"Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age."

~Psalm 100

Psalms quoted from Christian Prayer, Catholic Book Publishing Company, 1976

To learn more about Divine Mercy visit:http://thedivinemercy.org/message/

Learn about an available app:http://thedivinemercy.org/news/story.php?NID=4302.  Link to app is at bottom of the article, before replies.