Ash Wednesday

Other saints: Saint Alexander of Alexandria (250-328)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 20 Reverence in Prayer
Mass: Joel 2:12-18; Resp Ps 51; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

DURING THESE DAYS OF LENT … LET EACH ONE DENY HERSELF SOME FOOD, DRINK, SLEEP, NEEDLESS TALKING AND IDLE JESTING, AND LOOK FORWARD TO HOLY EASTER WITH JOY AND SPIRITUAL LONGING.

(RB 49:5-7)

On a personal level, today's Gospel brings back memories from childhood. I remember this Gospel proclaimed every Ash Wednesday and particularly recall listening to Jesus telling me not to look gloomy when I fast, and to not neglect my appearance. Taking those words seriously, I would "dress up" on Ash Wednesdays and stand a little taller. Year after year, I smile on Ash Wednesday when these memories return. 

Related to fasting, I include again something sent last year by Archbishop Arthur Roche: 

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ indwelling in them.

Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.

Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.

Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; feast on trust.

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.

Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.

Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from suspicioun; feast on truth.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

Gentle God, during this season of fasting and feasting,

gift us with your presence, so we can be a gift to others in carrying out your work.

Amen.

It is good to contemplate more deeply the paschal mystery through which God's mercy has been bestowed upon us. Indeed, the experience of mercy is only possible in a "face to face" relationship with the crucified and risen Lord "who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20), in a heartfelt dialogue between friends. That is why prayer is so important in Lent. Even more than a duty, prayer is an expression of our need to respond to God's love which always precedes and sustains us. Christians pray in the knowledge that, although unworthy, we are still loved. Prayer can take any number of different forms, but what truly matters in God's eyes is that it penetratrates deep within us and chips away at our hardness of heart, in order to convert us ever more fully to God and to his will.

(Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for Lent 2020, 2)

LENT IS A TIME TO DISCONNECT WITH CELL PHONES AND CONNECT TO THE GOSPEL … IT IS THE TIME TO GIVE UP USELESS WORDS, CHATTER, RUMORS, GOSSIP, AND TALK AND TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE LORD.
(Pope Francis, Wednesday Audience, Ash Wednesday 2020)

© Gertrude Feick 2020