Breaking the Word

Ash Wednesday – 22^nd February 2023 – Joel 2,12-18; Mt 6,1-6.16-18

Moment to Relent

Today is Ash Wednesday, a day when we are marked with an ashen cross on our foreheads to remind ourselves to live by the cross, as individuals we are but ashes, and to make reparation with almighty and ever forgiving God. Ashes have been a sign of repentance for millennial years. They signify our insignificance and our ultimate destiny to return to God in dust. With God, however, there is a chance for new life, fuller life, and eternal life.  Thus, Ash Wednesday gives hope for the new beginning.

The first reading from the book of Joel presents the call to repentance: fasting and refraining from pleasurable acts. All the people are asked to return to the Lord and seek forgiveness for their sins and practice acts of mortification. They are to ask God to spare God’s holy people from the punishment which they deserve for their sinfulness. The prophet Joel challenges all the people to come together and perform acts of self-denial and repentance so that God might “relent/Re-Lent” from punishing the people, which they deserve because of their sinfulness. The word “ReLent” comes from the Latin words “re” meaning “again” and “Lentus” meaning “slow”. Thus “ReLent” means to once again slow down and not be so fast in making judgments. We need to “ReLent” during Lent. We need to slow down our fast-paced living and take the time to take stock of ourselves and to find where we are in our relationship with the Lord and with our neighbours. 40 days of Lent is like a retreat by which we renew ourselves spiritually. It is a special time to come closer to Jesus, who shared his humanity by suffering and death. It is a spring time of renewal from our past misdeeds into the new life of God. Thus, Lent is an opportune moment that God provides to purify our hearts and minds and to turn our intentions back to Him.

7^th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 21^st February 2023 – Sirach 2,1-11; Mark 9,30-37

Spark of Love

The first reading from the book of Sirach presents the words of parental advice. They are words of encouragement to a younger person about the importance of trusting God especially in times of adversity.  In hard and rough times, God will never forsake those who are faithful. The analogy of gold and silver being tested (purified) in the fire is presented as a symbol of God’s love. These precious metals are heated to the melting point. Since the gold or silver is heavier than the debris, they sink and the impurities are on the top where they can be removed. In the church, the fire is used as an image to express the love of God. While the fire is used to purify precious metals, it also turns darkness into light and brings hope and warmth into a cold and trying world. The fire starts as a small spark which then ignites the other fuel. In the same way, God’s fire of love remains as a spark in human’s heart. It clears the darkness in our minds and sheds light to walk ahead cherishing God’s love and guidance. Therefore, the faithful are challenged to be patient and advised not to dwell on themselves or the right times they are undergoing, but to call on the name of the Lord and experience Divine love.