Ash Wednesday
2017
Joel 2:12-18,
Ps 51, 2Cor 5:20-6:2, Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Welcome to Lent 2017! It is often described as a time of favour. It is a time we put in extra effort to draw close to God. This season is characterized by prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We thank God we have such opportunity in the Church, and we embrace it with joy. Let us participate actively in this year’s Lenten campaign. Lenten season can be calmly exciting, serenely strengthening and secretly rewarding!
Once more, let us usher in this
year’s lent by taking a brief look at the Gospel of today. Jesus recognizes the
struggle we go through of not making a show of our piety. “Beware of practicing
your piety before men in order to be seen by them...” The temptation for human
approval and immediate glory is high. Anticipating and accepting human
recognition is dangerous for spiritual growth. Jesus does not want us to miss
the reward. Hence He gives us a way out...
“But when you pray, go into your
room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your
Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This implies that God bless us in
secret. He who sees in secret awaits us with His blessings in that secret
place. Therefore, our fasting, prayer and almsgiving in secret prepare us, and take us into that secret place where God’s
blessings await us.
Our heart is that secret room of
blessing. “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and
with mourning; and tear your hearts and not your garments,” says the Lord. To
God alone belongs our Lenten observances; human approval is not necessary. In this
way we give God our hearts, and draw closer to His love. What we bring “before
men” is the fruit of the blessing, like “ambassadors for Christ.”
Lent is a favourable time. The
silence of Jesus’ forty days in the desert confronts us! As we relive that
experience, we reactivate its blessings. Happy Lent 2017!
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Mater Domini Novitiate Community,Enugu.
March 1, 2017.
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