Joel 2:12-18; Ps 51; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mat 6:1-6.16-18
Pray, Fast, Repent, Give Alms
Dear friends, today we begin the Lenten season an extraordinary moment for Christians. Ash Wednesday is one of the days of obligation for every Catholic to go to Church to receive the ashes on the forehead to mark the beginning of 40 days of prayer, fasting, repentance, and giving alms. It is also a day of obligatory fasting for those above 18 years and below 60 years. During all the Fridays of Lenten season, we pray the stations of the cross to remind ourselves of the suffering that Jesus underwent to save us. During fasting, one is allowed to have one full meal in the day and another two small meals that together do not make a full meal. The law of the Church says, “Fast on Ash Wednesday and do not eat meat on Good Friday”. While fasting is reducing one’s intake of food, what we fast may be offered to those who do not have it.
It is a time for increased prayer especially focused on repentance and seeking God’s mercy for our shortcomings that make us stray from his presence. Finally and most importantly, Lent is preparation for Easter, the most important celebration for all Christians when Jesus conquered death and won us eternal redemption.
Fasting, praying, application of ashes, and almsgiving are all external signs and symbols of repentance. Bodily fasting by itself is meaningless if it is not coupled with spiritual avoidance of sin, said St. Basil of Caesarea. We are called to fast those evil ways during this lengthy period of Lent so that by the time we celebrate Easter, we will have done enough practice and cease to commit that evil going forward.
Praying does not mean frequenting the Church only during the period of the Lent. It means rather a conscious and deliberate attempt to connect with God to relate with him better. It is a time when we pray for ourselves, others, and the world. Constant prayer increases our consciousness of the presence of God in and around us, hence helping us to act justly. When we forget or suppress the presence of God, we turn to evil ways without feeling a pinch. Let us pray for the warring countries in the world that directly or indirectly are affecting all of us.
Ashes are a sign of repentance and penance. In the book of Jonah chapter three (not today’s reading), we read that the people of Nineveh wore sackcloth and sat on ashes as a sign of repentance after the warnings of destruction by the prophet Jonah. The king also declared a fast for all the people including the animals (Jon 3:6-9). Ashes also serve as a reminder that we are taken from dust and unto dust shall we return but our souls shall rise for judgment (Gen 3:19). When we were born we were naked and without any possessions other than our own body. When we die, our lifeless bodies will be buried in the dust and after a few months, we will turn into dust once more. This is also a good reminder for us in our day-to-day undertakings not to boast of our human achievement while trampling under our feet those less privileged.
Almsgiving is a sign of solidarity that we learn from Jesus himself. We do not help others because we are rich but because it concerns us that they are suffering and need help. We all need help at one moment of our life or another including when we die. When we give alms, we are urged to do it in a dignified manner. The worth of those who need help does not diminish in any way because of their problems.
In the first reading, Prophet Joel reminds us that conversion of the heart is the one required of us during this season and not the outward show. He also reminds us that God is always compassionate to those who repent and turn away from their evil ways. God wants to restore us to the proper state he created us and that we keep on damaging by our sins. We gather as a Church to ask God also for mercy and forgiveness of the entire world. We ask him to spare us and restore us to his care.
Psalm 51 is a prayer made by David after he had sinned. David had taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite after he had him killed in the battle. Prophet Nathan presented the case before the king and told him of the wrath of God on his head for having done what was evil before God. David did not waste time but repented and fasted for his sins. God had mercy on him and lessened his punishment. David reminds us that we cannot hide from our sins because it is always before us. We need to confess our sins before God and ask him to recreate us anew and restore our lost joy. Let us not postpone repentance; it will come to cost us huge.
St. Paul calls us to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ who was made sin to take away our sins. Jesus came to; literally take our infirmities and sins. Jesus touched the leprous man and healed him. It means that he literally took the leprosy from him just as he took our sins. By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins. Lenten season is the most favorable time to make peace with ourselves, with God, and with our neighbor.
In the Gospel today, Jesus is instructing his disciples on the best practices when fasting, praying, or giving alms. When we give alms and shout it for all to know, we get no reward from God because those who hear us will have honored us already with their admiration. Also making gloomy faces for others to know that we are fasting does not help either. God is not deaf and so when we pray, we need not shout as if making people know that we pray hard and loud will make our prayer be heard. Shouting during prayer has become normal in Many Christian gatherings. Sometimes you will think there is competition about whose voice will reach God first. God sees what is in secret and we do not have to make scenes for him to notice us.
Dear friends, many things need restoration on a personal level, our communities, and society at large. Let us focus on true repentance so that God can restore us. Many are broken families, friendships, diplomatic ties, etc. Let us take advantage of this period. How are you planning to live this intensive season of our faith?
Have a blessed Lenten season.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 