On Ember Wednesday, the Church calls us to fast and pray, to attune our hearts to the movements of grace, and to reflect on our dependency on God. This sacred tradition, tied to the change of seasons and the ordering of the liturgical calendar, serves as a time of penitence, gratitude, and purification. The readings for this day, from 2 Esdras 8:1-10 (also known as Nehemiah in the Vulgate) and Mark 9:16-28, invite us to contemplate two central themes: humility before God and the power of faith in His providence.
2 Esdras 8:1-10: A People Humbled by the Word
In this passage, Ezra, the priest, gathers the people of Israel to hear the Law of God after their return from exile. As Ezra reads aloud from the Book of the Law, the people are struck with sorrow and weep as they recognize their transgressions and failures to live according to God’s commandments. However, Ezra and Nehemiah reassure them, saying, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep. […] For the joy of the Lord is your strength” (2 Esdras 8:9-10).
The Fathers of the Church offer profound insights into this scene of repentance and renewal. St. Augustine, reflecting on the nature of sorrow in the Christian life, explains that there is a “blessed mourning” which leads to true joy. He writes, “For as Christ speaks in the Beatitudes, ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). This mourning is not to be confused with worldly grief but is the sorrow of a heart turned toward God, aware of its failings and longing for His mercy.” The people’s weeping in 2 Esdras is precisely this kind of mourning: a sorrow that leads to repentance and ultimately to the joy of being reconciled with God.
St. John Chrysostom, in his commentary on repentance, adds that the humility of recognizing one’s sins is a gift from God, one that opens the soul to grace. “To acknowledge one’s sin is to break the chains that bind us. This contrition is the doorway through which the light of divine mercy enters.” The people of Israel, moved to tears by the Law, are not left in their sorrow but are led into a deeper relationship with God through their repentance.
Mark 9:16-28: The Power of Faith in the Face of Doubt
In the Gospel of Mark, we find the dramatic account of a father bringing his son, possessed by a mute and deaf spirit, to Jesus. The disciples are unable to cast out the demon, leading the father to doubt. When Jesus arrives, the father pleads, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus’ response is powerful and direct: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The father cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24). Jesus then casts out the demon, and the boy is restored to health.
This passage highlights the tension between faith and doubt, a theme the Church Fathers frequently addressed. St. Gregory the Great, in his homilies, notes the humanity of the father’s plea. “The cry, ‘I believe; help my unbelief,’ reveals a soul torn between the desire to trust fully in God’s power and the weakness of human frailty.” St. Gregory reminds us that this prayer is one of deep humility—a recognition that, while we strive to believe, we must constantly seek God’s help to sustain and strengthen our faith.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, commenting on this passage, emphasizes the efficacy of even the smallest amount of faith. He writes, “Faith is like a mustard seed; though small, it has the potential to grow and uproot the mountains of sin and doubt in our hearts.” In this light, the father’s humble request becomes a model for all Christians: it is not the quantity of our faith that matters, but the sincerity and openness to God’s grace.
In a similar vein, St. Augustine, drawing from this passage, reflects on the disciples’ inability to cast out the demon and how this relates to the necessity of prayer and fasting. “Our Lord teaches us that certain evils cannot be overcome without both faith and the discipline of self-denial. Fasting purifies the soul, making it more receptive to God’s power, while prayer draws us nearer to Him.” This teaching resonates deeply with the spirit of Ember Wednesday, a day dedicated to fasting and prayer as means of drawing closer to God and seeking His intervention in our lives.
Ember Wednesday: A Time of Renewal
As we observe Ember Wednesday in September, these readings remind us of the dual path of humility and faith. Like the people of Israel in Ezra’s time, we are called to humble ourselves before the Word of God, to acknowledge our sins and shortcomings. But in this humility, we do not despair; rather, we are assured of the joy that comes from reconciliation with God.
Similarly, the Gospel calls us to a deeper faith in Christ, especially in moments of doubt or difficulty. The father’s cry, “I believe; help my unbelief,” echoes the prayer of all Christians who recognize the limits of their own strength and turn to God in their weakness. Through prayer and fasting, we grow in faith, drawing closer to the One who makes all things possible.
As St. John Chrysostom reminds us, “It is not fasting alone, nor prayer alone, but both together that purify the soul and make it strong in faith.” This Ember Wednesday, let us embrace the spiritual practices of the Church with humility and faith, trusting that through them, God will lead us into deeper communion with Himself.
Conclusion: Faith and Humility in Practice
The lessons of 2 Esdras and Mark come together beautifully in the liturgical spirit of Ember Wednesday. Both texts underscore the need for humility in acknowledging our sins and the importance of faith in overcoming the challenges we face, whether spiritual or physical. In fasting and prayer, the Church provides us with concrete means to grow in these virtues, calling us to trust more fully in the mercy and power of God.
As we move through this holy day, let us remember the words of Nehemiah: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” With humble hearts and steadfast faith, we will find that even in our moments of weakness and doubt, God’s grace is sufficient to sustain us.