HOMILY ASH WEDNESDAY THEME: BE PURIFIED AND BE RECONCILED TO GOD

HOMILY ASH WEDNESDAY THEME: BE PURIFIED AND BE RECONCILED TO GOD My brothers and sisters in Christ, today we are entering a new season, one of penance and mortification. Together, we have gathered here to celebrate ‘Ash Wednesday’, the first of forty days of the Lenten Season that precedes Easter. On this special occasion, we are called to be reconciled to God. Through the sacramental of ashes that is symbolic of penance, we are reminded that we as sinners are but dust and ashes cf. Genesis 18:27 Today, in preparation for the joy of Easter that approaches, we need to call upon the mercy of the Lord Jesus, asking Him for His blessings and forgiveness for the Heavenly Father does not want us to die but to live with the risen Christ who reigns forever and ever. As such, through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we ought to prepare ourselves to celebrate the death and glorious Resurrection of Christ our Saviour by being cleansed from our sins through a renewal of spirit. The spiritual practice of applying ashes on oneself as a sign of sincere repentance goes back thousands of years. Frequently in the days of the old and the New Testament, as we have heard from the readings of the Scriptures during the past year, when someone had sinned, had to dress in sack clothes and cover self with ashes cf. Jeremiah 6:26.The rite that we are observing today arises from that custom as a form of spiritual practice for observing public penitence. Church history tells us that the liturgical practice of applying ashes on one's forehead during the Lenten Season goes back as far as the eight century. This was accompanied by different forms of fasting, prayer, sacrifice and charity towards others. The writings of St. Leo, around 461 A.D, tell us that during the Lenten Season, he exhorted the faithful to abstain from certain food to fulfill with their fasts the Apostolic institution of forty days. We who happen to live in the age of consumerism, this form of prayer is important since it will assist us to reflect on the gift of life and of one another. First reading: Joel 2:12-18 As we heard during today’s first reading from the Book of Joel, the Lord God calls upon us to return to Him with all our hearts, with fasting, weeping and mourning. We are told to split apart our hearts, not our clothing. In the days of the Old Testament, many tore their clothing as a sign of repentance. But, while some tore their clothing to demonstrate an exterior sign; they just stopped at that. There was no true repentance because inside them their hearts of stone had not changed! They had not let go of their worldly ways to embrace holy. To practice sincere repentance, the Lord God tells us to change our hearts. We are called to examine our most inner self; those evil ways that we have to let go once and for all. During this holy season we ought to remember that the Lord God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not punish us if we are sincere and if we are willing to turn away from our sins. God is not a God of punishment but a God of love to those who strive earnestly to walk in His righteous ways. Prophet Joel reminds us that our sanctification in the likeness of God is not just for a few people. It is for all of us who have placed our faith in Christ on the day we received the Sacrament of Baptism. The following reminders need to provoke our hearts as we are told to assemble the aged, to gather the children, and even the breast fed infants. Joel even goes further to propose what would sound impossible that let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her canopy. This is a very powerful command that includes everyone, of all ages! This is the holy season when the ministers of the Church beg the Lord, asking Him on behalf of the people, to show His mercy upon humanity. This is the time when the ministers of the Church remind the Lord of His promises made to Abraham, our spiritual father, that we will inherit the Promised Land, the eternal Kingdom of God. The practice of reminding the Lord God of His promises is to draw His pity upon us who are weak sinners. It is in doing so that He will not forget us. It is also a moment to assure us that we will not be mocked by those who say, ‘Where is your God?’ For our Lord God keeps His promises. He will save those who walk in righteousness in daily communion with Him. In this era of the joy of the Gospel, we need to gaze our eyes on the one who alone can save us and that is Lord God ever loving. Second reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 During this second reading, we heard St. Paul appealing to us on behalf of Jesus to be reconciled to God. God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us on the cross. He who was without sin took our place and was treated as a sinner, so we might become righteous in the eyes of God. What a horrible death we deserved; the death that Christ endured for us is beyond telling. All this was possible because of God’s divine love for us. Today once again, God reminds us that He heard our cries that were raised to Heaven. By hearing us from heaven, God has helped us to secure our salvation. Now is the time for us to show our appreciation towards this act of love by walking in His righteousness so that we may inherit the salvation that we have asked of Him and which He is granting to us through His infinite care and mercy. This is a wonderful invitation that we should not let pass by us. Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 How do we walk in righteousness? Jesus answered that question during today’s Gospel according to Matthew. We walk in righteousness by not continuing to live in our worldly ways but by embracing a spiritual mind so that we mature in Christ through the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus warns us against hypocrisy common to those who are pious so that they may be seen by others. He says that they have received their rewards through those who admired them and praised them for it. For them, there is no reward from God the Father in Heaven. During this Lenten Season, our piety must manifest private and privileged time between the Lord God and ourselves. We must experience a transformation of our whole being beyond going to Church. We must walk with Christ in our lives every minute of the day, from the time we rise in the morning until the time we go to bed at night. Equally, when you sacrifice by giving to the Church or by reaching out to someone in need, your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing. Do it privately and then forget about it. If you give a larger contribution to the Church so you can receive a larger reward, then you may be missing the point. Important must be as Christ is instructing us that our right hand must not knows what our left hand is doing. Meaning, our right hand is giving while our left hand is waiting to receive its benefit. If you decide to increase your time of prayer during the Lenten Season, do not do it in open space during the busy hours so that others will see you and applause your piety. If that is the case, then such a behavior will make you will receive your reward on earth by those who will praise you for your demonstrations. Rather when you pray, go into your bedroom, close the door and pray to God the Father in private so the Heavenly Father may see you in private and reward you accordingly. If you decide to fast, do not overdo it to the extent that you look weak and sick so the others will notice that you are fasting. Fast to the degree that you can manage, always being cheerful and looking healthy so no one but God will know that you are fasting. Then, God the Father will reward you. All this is intended to assist us to be reconciled to God! These are the guidelines that the Church has received from God so the faithful may experience true repentance in order to receive Divine mercy and forgiveness. As you enter the Lenten Season, remember these words every day! Practice them! And I assure you that God shall reward you! Application This is a privileged time for all of us to make a deep examination of conscience so that we can repent and receive the good news of our salvation. Repentance is not only a favor that God is granting us but an opportunity to renew our lives for the better. This is also a time of deep reflection that leads us to mortification and fasting. In disciplining our bodies we become better people. Lent is also an occasion of cheerful almsgiving, because the Lord loves a cheerful giver cf. 2Corithians 9:7. It is in giving that we receive and in loving we are born into eternal life. Fr Paulino Mondo