Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:12-18; Ps 51; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mat 6:1-6.16-18

Update your Faith

Dear friends, today we begin the Lenten season, an extraordinary moment for Christians. During the Lenten season, Christians commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ, the saviour of humanity from slavery of sin and eternal damnation. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of 40 days of prayer, fasting, repentance, and giving alms that prepare us for Easter. It is also a day of obligatory fasting for those above 18 years and under 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.

When fasting, one can have one full meal in the day and another two small meals that do not make a full meal together. The law of the Church says, “Fast on Ash Wednesday and do not eat meat on Good Friday”. Many Christians avoid eating meat during all the Fridays of the Lenten season because they remind themselves of the passion and death of Christ just as Good Friday does. Fasting is not only limited to reducing one’s food intake but also fasting bad behaviours that separate us from God and Neighbour. If you fast something for an entire 40 days, it is very likely that in the end you may not have an appetite for it anymore. Have you tried to do so?

Lenten season is also 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, Lenten season 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 accompanied with spiritual avoidance of sin” (said St. Basil of Caesarea). How are you planning to spend this opportune season? Prophet Joel is asking us to tear our hearts and not our garments. If we are truly repentant and willing to change, God is merciful, slow to anger and compassionate. Humanity has hurt the world in many ways, including the destruction of the ecosystem. During this rent you can repent by planting a tree to restore natural order.

Praying does not mean frequenting the Church only during the period of Lent. It means rather a conscious and deliberate attempt to be reconciled with God. It is a time when we pray for ourselves, others, and the world. St. Paul reminds us that we must be the ambassadors of Christ to others. 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. Jesus reminds us that the most effective prayer is the one made in secret, heart-to-heart with God, not shouting in public spaces for everyone to see.

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 and soul. When we die, our lifeless bodies will be buried in the dust and a few months later, we will rot 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 or glory while trampling others under our feet.

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 in need, and we can help. We all need help at one moment in our life or another, including when we die. When we give alms, we are urged to do it in a dignified manner. We must always preserve the dignity of those that help us.

Dear friends, many things need restoration in our lives, our communities, and the entire society at large. Let us focus on true repentance, the one accompanied by true transformation, so that God can restore us. We have many broken families, relationships, friendships, communities, and nations because of selfish interests of individuals and groups. Let us take advantage of this Lenten season to make amendments while we still can.

Have a blessed Lenten season.

Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD