Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." (Lk 5:27-32)

***

Lord Jesus, as you called Levi,
you called me to follow you.
Not because I am worthy.
Not because I am qualified.
Not because there is anything I can give.
But because you know I need you,
and you alone can heal my broken soul.
Thank you, Lord.
Make me an instrument of your healing.
Make me an instrument of you love.

***

Have a holy Lent.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Somebody shared to me that he is giving up sweets for Lent. Another said she’s staying away from soda. Another shared that he is temporarily off Facebook and Twitter. And another shared that he is giving up his dinner cigarette. All these in the spirit of the Lenten Fast.

These acts of penance are all good and noteworthy. These practices of mortification, of self-denial help us recognize our true needs and help us let go of unnecessary things that often distract us from what is essential.

But the readings today shed light to a deeper and fuller understanding of fasting. Isaiah tells us that fasting is not limited to letting go of things we enjoy, or have been having in excess. Fasting rather is also and necessarily, a letting go of selfishness, complacency and apathy. Fasting is fasting from ourselves so that we can see others who are in need, and so we may do our best to reach out to them in compassion and service.

And in the Gospel Jesus tells those who question why his disciples do not fast that they will fast when the groom is taken away from them. Jesus reveals the fuller understanding of fasting – that we can truly fast and our fasting can be truly meaningful and can work to our holiness if we have filled ourselves first, with Christ. The call of fasting then is first of all, for us to receive Christ in our lives, give him priority and primacy, and with Jesus, we seek no other. Filled with Jesus, we can let go of our cravings of the things of this world, and our cravings to satisfy ourselves. Filled with Jesus, we can reach out to others in compassion and service, to give them, by our acts of alms-giving, not ourselves and our own righteousness, but Jesus.

Today, let us open our hearts, let ask the Lord to empty us of ourselves and our cravings, let ask the Lord Jesus to come and fill us, let ask the Lord to make us turn to others in need. Let us ask the Lord that we may long for, and give Jesus, only Jesus.

Amen.

Have a holy Lent.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Today, I would like to share the thoughts of Fr. RB, OP.

It's the first day after Ash Wednesday, and we are already hit with a stark choice. This is not a choice about what particular item we are going to 'give up" but what kind of life we are going to live. That is a fundamental choice. What's more Jesus expresses it in terms of a daily cross! And it is not just for Lent! Yet Lent has a way of reminding us of fundamental choices.

I know many people who have daily crosses to bear that are considerable. They suffer much. They may be the sick person or the care giver! They may be the parent or the offspring. They may be the hungry, naked, imprisoned or other person in crisis. We don't need to tell them to pick up their cross, but to let Jesus help them carry it. Does "giving up" a favorite food or drink mean a cross? How about forgiving that one person we have never been able to forgive? How about coming to terms with the road rage or political rage? There are many crosses we can take up for Lent and beyond. The cross that hangs on our wall or in our church is not just decoration or symbol only, it is that invitation Jesus gives us today in the gospel. AMEN

Have a holy Lent.

Ash Wednesday

The ashes remind us that we are dust, and unto dust we shall return. It reminds us that we are all mortals, that we will not live forever in this world, that we will all one day, die, that we will all return to the ground, or some even, literally into ashes (when cremated). The ashes also remind us that we are sinners, and we are called to be sorry for our sins and to become better.

It is interesting to note that the ashes marked on us would be in the form of a cross, not an “x”. When Jesus accepted the Cross, and was nailed to it and died on it, he showed us how much God loves us. By the love of God shown in the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus, we are saved from sin and death and the possibility of eternal life and happiness is given to us. When we are marked with the Cross, we are reminded also of the love of God, and his desire that we have eternal life and happiness.

Have a holy Lent.