ASH WEDNESDAY

A SHORT COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL FOR TODAY

Gospel

Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you

1.      Jesus said to his disciples:

2.      ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice;

3.      by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven.

 

4.      So when you give alms,

 

5.      do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration.

6.      I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward.

7.      But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret,

8.      and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

 

9.      ‘And when you pray,

 

10. do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them;

11. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward.

12. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place,

13. and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

 

14. ‘When you fast

 

15. do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting.

16. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward.

17. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18. so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret;

 

19. and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

 

 

LENT has come. The readings of today tell us to take God seriously and give up our negligence, sinfulness and return to him with all our hearts. God is real. He is the one who created us and gave us a mind and spirit by which we can live our own life. we don’t just follow instinct like the animals. We can choose what we think, say and do.

But this gift is one we must use responsibly. Animas cannot recognise their creator. We can. Animals cannot come to know what their creator wants from them. We can.

Lent is the time to discover that God wants of you in the few years that he gives us in this world. He is a kind and merciful Creator and that is why he created us and with infinite patience was us to come to him. He calls us so that he can bless us. He will bless now, but he promises an eternal life to those who return the love he has shown to us. He will give us this eternal life in his visible presence if we return and listen to him.

This is the message of Lent. Return to the Lord Creator with sorrow for past indifference. Show your sorrow by PRAYER, FASTING AND SHARING YOUR GOODS with the needy. We are to do these in such a way that the Father, who created us, is the only one who sees what we do. Then we can be sure we are doing it for him and not just to get a name among other sinners like ourselves.

There is also and ominous note: for those who refuse to return, there is nothing but eternal death.

Let us all take this to heart and approach our God.