THE WORD
Joel 2,12-18 / 2 Cor 5,20-6:2 / Mt 6,1-6.16-18
“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 the 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 alms giving 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 they 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.
IN OTHER WORDS
During a celebration of the Holy Eucharist on an Ash Wednesday in Pamplona, Cagayan, I noticed one of the students kept on touching her forehead. After the Mass, I asked her about it. “Nakakahiya sabihin, father, but I really had the very strong urge to remove the ash you put on my forehead. My mind kept telling me it was itchy. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling I had”.
Today, the prophet Joel in the rst reading invites us to commence the annual Lenten journey of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. But Lent is not only the time for fasting or almsgiving but basically a time for repentance. During this time we feel the weight of sin as we come to terms with our consciences. It is here where my reflection regarding my personal experience with that young fellow Christian above comes into play. I remember telling her and her group that it was alright when she felt like removing the ash on her forehead and that anyone could feel uncomfortable with it. I went on to admonish them to consider seriously what the ‘ashes’ had to do with their lives. That the ashes were to remind them including myself that life is short and that “We are dust and unto dust we shall return”. The ashes on the foreheads also urge us who have received them to change our innermost attitudes and manners that are bad and sinful. When we, like that student I met, feel strongly the urge of removing the ashes too soon, it is because the presence of sin in our hearts makes us uncomfortable.
St. Paul in the 2nd reading redirects such strong feeling towards reconciliation with God. The words spoken by the priest “Repent and believe in the Gospel” becomes then a rule of new life in us. In this way, our anticipation of a glorious resurrection becomes more meaningful as ever.
- Fr. Emil Pati, SVD | San Fernando, La Union
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
