Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. It is a time set aside by the Church for us to prepare ourselves most intently to celebrate the events of Holy Week, six weeks hence. It is a time that reflects the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert preparing for his life's work! 40 days is a suitable time for intense preparation!
During this time we must remember who it is that is doing the preparing: us! We must remember that we stand in need of God's mercy and forgiveness as much now, as people of any other age in history, if not more so. We too live a life that is filled with the good, the bad and the beautiful and the ugly! But, we must also remember that this is precisely why Jesus came into the world: to remove our sin, to remove our guilt, to restore our life, to turn our sadness into joy!
The prophet Joel in the first reading tells us what is required of us: a turning back to the Lord, with all our hearts! But, a dramatic outward show of remorse will get us nowhere – it is the interior rending of the heart (because of the love of God) that will bring us mercy and forgiveness
Jesus, himself, in the gospel passage reiterates the same message: he says: Don't perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. If you want praise from people; you will not get praise from God – especially, when it counts!
When you give alms: don't advertise it!
When you do your private praying to God: go into your room – or at least the secret room of your heart – without being noticed,
When you fast: don't moan and complain and let everyone feel sorry for you – for the pity you get from them, will be the only pity you get – you won't be getting any from God when it counts.
In the second reading, St Paul tells the Corinthians the bottom line: BE RECONCILED TO GOD. This is what is most important! Every day of our lives – but especially during this Holy Season of Lent – we need to measure our day by our response to God's personal invitation to be reconciled. We need no longer live in sin, in darkness, in confusion, in ignorance, in chaos, in the super-sad-secularistic philosophy of the day – we can receive the grace of God and allow him to make all the difference in our world.
Behold, NOW is a very acceptable time to do this converting totally to God and his ways – behold NOW is the day of salvation!
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!
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