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Gospel Reading for March 05, 2025 – Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18
A WAY OF LIFE
Ash Wednesday
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.”
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Religion is A WAY OF LIFE, and LIFE is nothing else but the TRUTH. So, we have to examine ourselves. How does Christianity affect our lives? Does it impact our lives? Do we think that a mere participation in the Palm Procession, in the Stations of the Cross, in the Eucharistic Celebration, etc. is ENOUGH PROOF that we are truly Christians? Worse, if our participation is merely for SHOWING OFF. We want people to think that we are devout and are very close to Jesus. We want people to think that we love God so much.
Our practice of Fasting and Abstinence on this first day of the Lenten Season shows the essence of the season. It is not just a 40-day run to the Holy Week where the Easter Triduum of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection is re-enacted and celebrated. It is a 40-day fasting and abstinence from everything that will keep us away from God in eternity. Like the temptation of Jesus in the desert, despite lack of food and all, he came out VICTORIOUS over the wily devil. It is a 40-day of giving special attention to the needy and the desperate, hence, the comfort that we are able to deprive ourselves of, we give to them.
A lot of us go gaga over the so many cleansing products available in the market today because they all claim that these products will make us look youthful. The Lenten Season is a time to cleanse our souls with the cleansing products of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. They will give our souls a youthful look that is able to gaze at the glory of God in awe and thanksgiving!
May our celebration of Lent bring us ever closer to Jesus for seeing him in the needy!
