Ash Wednesday Reflection

Read it:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.



“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.



“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”



Reflect on it! Today, on the first day of Lent, Jesus calls us to sacrifice. Three times, we hear that the Father who sees in secret (or what is hidden) will repay you. Often in our society, we see glorification of so many unholy, cut wrenching things. There’s no more concept of sacrifice. Christ calls us today to sacrifice in secret, not so that others may see, but merely sacrifice for the love of Christ. Whether it’s in prayer, or fasting or almsgiving, all of these should be done in a spirit of love and secret. Lent in so many ways is that of a secret mission! This lent may we journey with Christ by loving him boldly through our prayer and fasting and almsgiving.



Pray it: God our Father, help me to sacrifice today with the love of your son. Help me to not count the costs of my sacrifice or to publicly proclaim it. It is in finding you in the hidden parts of our lives that we come alive.



Live it! Challenge: Today, do a task around your house (dishes, cleaning the bathroom, dusting, vacuuming etc), without anyone knowing about it.