Gospel: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season, where the Faithful is called to repent for their sins, to give alms, fast and do abstinence. The Gospel was lifted according to St Matthew in which Jesus said to his disciples that when they fast, pray, or do almsgiving, they should do it in private not like what the hypocrites are doing who do it just to win the praise of other people because then they will not receive the recompense from the Father in Heaven.
The central theme of the Gospel is three acts that we must do this Lenten season in order to reexamine our lives. These are fast, pray, and give.
Fasting is more than skipping meals although Catholics are required to fast in this fashion during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting can also mean detaching ourselves from all things where we derive pleasure from, especially now that we are preoccupied with all things technology that all of our senses are overwhelmed. In this time, when we detach ourselves for a while, we can reflect on what's happening with our lives and then eventually find its purpose.
This is also the season to pray. When the ashes were put on our foreheads, it is a reminder that all of us were made from the ashes and when we die we will also return to the ashes. It tells us that life is short, and the time to repent is now. The Church is inviting us to go to confession, and the time is now. We are called to pray intimately to God, and the time is now.
Finally, we are all called to give. And when we give, God does not want us to make a show out of it. We should give in private and in secret, not allowing the left hand to know what the right hand is doing. Jesus warns us of hypocrisy just like what others are doing in His time.
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The Gospel reflection is sponsored by Emirates Airline.
The central theme of the Gospel is three acts that we must do this Lenten season in order to reexamine our lives. These are fast, pray, and give.
Fasting is more than skipping meals although Catholics are required to fast in this fashion during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting can also mean detaching ourselves from all things where we derive pleasure from, especially now that we are preoccupied with all things technology that all of our senses are overwhelmed. In this time, when we detach ourselves for a while, we can reflect on what's happening with our lives and then eventually find its purpose.
This is also the season to pray. When the ashes were put on our foreheads, it is a reminder that all of us were made from the ashes and when we die we will also return to the ashes. It tells us that life is short, and the time to repent is now. The Church is inviting us to go to confession, and the time is now. We are called to pray intimately to God, and the time is now.
Finally, we are all called to give. And when we give, God does not want us to make a show out of it. We should give in private and in secret, not allowing the left hand to know what the right hand is doing. Jesus warns us of hypocrisy just like what others are doing in His time.
x----x
The Gospel reflection is sponsored by Emirates Airline.
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