Today we begin the Lenten season through this celebration of Ash Wednesday. As a reminder our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has asked that we offer our prayers and fasting this day for peace throughout the world especially in Russia and Ukraine.
Our Gospel was taken from the Sermon on the Mount. The importance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving were outlined there. In performing these acts we were reminded that we must be found humble of heart. It is through humility that we do not perform righteous deeds in order to be seen, that we don’t give alms in order to blow a trumpet before us, that we don’t pray in order that others may see us, and that we don’t fast in order to look gloomy. As we were told, “And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Throughout Lent let us open our heart to these ancient practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices open our heart up to the Lord and assist us in coming to live more freely in our love for Him and our neighbor. It is easy to allow other practices to creep into our life which hold us back from making this a reality. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are all ways that we combat this from taking place.
As we take ashes upon ourself we humble our pride and are reminded that we must live for the Lord. We are reminded that we must repent and believe in the Gospel and that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. Let us use this season and the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to make this reality so.
