FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY - Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 19 minutes ago
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - Is 58:1-9a
"Is this the manner of fasting I would choose, a day to afflict oneself?"
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
1 Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Proclaim to my people their transgression,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the judgment of their God;
They ask of me just judgments,
they desire to draw near to God.
3 “Why do we fast, but you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, but you take no note?”
See, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,
and drive all your laborers.
4 See, you fast only to quarrel and fight
and to strike with a wicked fist!
Do not fast as you do today
to make your voice heard on high!
5 Is this the manner of fasting I would choose,
a day to afflict oneself?
To bow one’s head like a reed,
and lie upon sackcloth and ashes?
Is this what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
6 Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking off every yoke?
7 Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the accusing finger, and malicious speech;
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 9:14-15
"The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."
✠From the Gospel according to Matthew
14 Then the disciples of John approached him and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.[a]
FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY - Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear people of God,
Lent is a season of grace, the season when God bestows His saving grace upon humanity, a gift from God to humanity.
Ash Wednesday helps us remember how our ancestors in faith repented of their sins and returned to God in the days of old.
Now, every year, God grants that the rite of the imposition of ashes be repeated, so that we have the opportunity to look back at ourselves, to look at our true selves, to repent of our sins, and to return to God, and to be reconciled with Him.
Lent is also an opportunity, a wake-up call for those who are drifting away from God, knowing to return to Him.
Today's Word of God awakens everyone that when there is an opportunity to do good, an opportunity to return to God, do it with our whole, true self before God; do not show off to others to be exalted by the good deeds we do.
For Lent is a season of repentance, a time for people to have the opportunity to do good deeds, to atone for our sins, to ask God for forgiveness of our sins, and to give thanks to God.
It is not an opportunity to do good and charitable deeds for the sake of being praised and glorified by others while forgetting God.
That is also the plan of Satan, who is a hypocrite.
It subtly tempts humans to put ourselves above all else, thereby leading us to offend God, and our souls will be captured in Satan’s hands.
Therefore, God warns everyone that when doing good and virtuous deeds, not to show off for others to see, otherwise the reward bestowed by God will be forfeited.
For there will be only two choices: one is to choose God, the other is to choose the world.
In choosing the world results in being glorified and receiving reward in this very life.
In choosing God requires living sincerely as our true self before Him, doing everything to glorify His holy name.
Thus, God teaches that we must be humble and self-abasement before Him, becoming little and simple, and living charitably while maintaining constant intimate union with Him, asking for His forgiveness of sins and for Him to look upon our fragile and weak condition.
Lent is an opportunity for humanity to return to God. When God provides this opportunity, we must seize it.
For as long as we live on this earth, we still have a chance.
Today God reminds everyone to live according to His teachings, not to go astray, and not to fall into the hands of Satan.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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