ASH WEDNESDAY - Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to other to be fasting.” (Mt 6:16)

FIRST READING - Joel 2:12-18

A reading from the Book of Joel

Even now, says the LORD,

return to me with your whole heart,

with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;

Rend your hearts, not your garments,

and return to the LORD, your God.

For gracious and merciful is he,

slow to anger, rich in kindness,

and relenting in punishment.

Perhaps he will again relent

and leave behind him a blessing,

Offerings and libations

for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!

proclaim a fast,

call an assembly;

Gather the people,

notify the congregation;

Assemble the elders,

gather the children

and the infants at the breast;

Let the bridegroom quit his room

and the bride her chamber.

Between the porch and the altar

let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,

And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people,

and make not your heritage a reproach,

with the nations ruling over them!

Why should they say among the peoples,

'Where is their God?'"

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land

and took pity on his people.

SECOND READING from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians - 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2

Brothers and sisters:

We are ambassadors for Christ,

as if God were appealing through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ,

be reconciled to God.

For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,

so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Working together, then,

we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,

and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;

behold, now is the day of salvation.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-1

From the Gospel according to Matthew

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."

ASH WEDNESDAY - Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God today tells humanity that Lent is a season of grace, a time when God bestows grace on humanity, a day of God's salvation, a gift from God the Father to humanity.

Ashes help us remember how our ancestors repented of their sins and returned to God. Every year, God repeats the process of applying ashes so that we have the opportunity to reflect on our true selves, to know how to repent of our sins, return to God, and reconcile with Him.

Lent is also an opportunity, a wake-up call, signaling to us that those who are far away from God should return to Him.

Today, God warns everyone that when there is an opportunity to return to God to do good deeds, we should do it with all our hearts before God. Do not do it for a show, just to let others see the good things we do so that they can glorify us.

Lent is a season of repentance, a season for us to have the opportunity to do good deeds to atone for our sins, to ask God to forgive our sins, and to thank God. It is not an opportunity for us to do good deeds to gain praise from people and forget God.

For if we do it to be praised, it is hypocrisy; it is falling into Satan's scheme. Satan always secretly tempts us to consider ourselves superior to everyone, to offend God, and to wait for the opportunity to steal our souls. Therefore, God warns everyone that when doing good deeds, do not show off for the world to see; otherwise, God will not give us the blessing. God gives humanity two choices: one is to choose God, and the other is to choose the world.

-If we Choose the world then we will be honored and will enjoy the reward of this short-lived life.

-If we Choose God then we must live sincerely as our true self before God, and do everything to glorify God's holy name. He also teaches us to become small, simple, humble, and to be self-abase before Him; to live in charity and be closely united with Him; to ask Him to forgive our sins, and to ask Him to look upon our fragile and weak condition.

Today, God also reminds everyone to live according to God's teachings. Do not go astray and fall into the hands of Satan, for this “Accuser” accuses our sins day and night before God the Father's court. They sift humans like humans sift rice, and human strength cannot withstand it if we do not rely on God.

Lent is the time when God the Father creates opportunities for people to return to Him, so we should seize hold of it. For as long as we are still alive on this earth, there is still a chance.

When the chance is gone, meaning we are still stubborn in sin, the devil is free to attack us and steal our souls. As written in the Real Word of God: '"Greetings, my beloved child. God the Father tells you, God the Father lets you know, the devil is free to tempt people. If you do the will of God the Father, you will be protected by God the Father. If you do not do the will of God the Father, the devil will be free to steal your soul.'"

Thanks be to God. Amen.