Ash Wednesday 2017 : Repentance

1 March 2017

Repentance

Today is Ash Wednesday as we sing the hymn of 'Amazing Grace' in Church and have the imposition of ashes on our foreheads, we enter into the season of Lent; a period of 40 days where we have the chance to reunite once again, more deeply with God in our faith, in our love for Him and for one another.  

To me, Lent encompasses all of the following: prayer, reflection, repentance, conversion, alms giving, fasting, penance, forgiveness, reconciliation, spiritual renewal. In short, God is calling us today to return to Him with our whole heart, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness and relenting in punishment ( JL 2:12-18). Today, we have the chance to ask God with a sincere and contrite heart, for his mercy for all the wrongs we have done in our life, just as how the Psalmist sang: "Be merciful O Lord for we have sinned" .  

In the Gospel of Mt 6:1-6, 16-18, Jesus taught his disciples not to show off in public whenever they perform any good deeds for God who sees everything in secret will repay them accordingly.   

How apt all these messages are for us today, more than ever, as we face an uncertain world! It should touch the core of our hearts and drive us to do good, to change from our bad habits; to consciously be aware of not hurting anyone and to forgive freely. 

                       
                       When we die to something, something comes alive within us.
                       When we die to self, charity comes alive;
                       if we die to pride, service comes alive;
                       If we die to lust, reverence for personality comes alive;
                       if we die to anger, love comes alive.

                                                 -Venerable Fulton Sheen-