22 February, 2023 - ASH WEDNESDAY | Season of Lent

 Gospel:  Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Take care not to perform righteous deeds

in order that people may see them;

otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms,

do not blow a trumpet before you,

as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets

to win the praise of others.

Amen, I say to you,

they have received their reward.

But when you give alms,

do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,

so that your almsgiving may be secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray,

do not be like the hypocrites,

who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners

so that others may see them.

Amen, I say to you,

they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go to your inner room,

close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast,

do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.

They neglect their appearance,

so that they may appear to others to be fasting.

Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you fast,

anoint your head and wash your face,

so that you may not appear to be fasting,

except to your Father who is hidden.

And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." 

Reflection: 

 As the Season of Lent starts, the Church reminds us of the three works of mercy: almsgiving, prayer and fasting.  The opening words of Jesus serve as a general introduction to all three of these works. The real conversion is what happens at the level of our heart. The pure heart that we pray for will be our key to the sacred journey that we are starting today. Without the cross, we would take God for granted, making Gods of ourselves, living and dying in sin.  With Ash Wednesday, we take our first step on our Lenten Pilgrimage. The readings of today remind us that the key moment in our change of heart is ‘now’! Pope Francis suggests that getting close to the Lord cannot happen if we don’t get close to our neighbour as well.

Activity:

 Do you realize your need for transformation?  Choose a vice in you that you will work to transform into a virtue this Lenten Season.

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