Denise Milani Suspenders

Wednesday, March 9

Year A - Season of Lent - Salt IV. - P

THE SACRED ASH

S. Francesca Roma - S. Dominic S.

Gl 2, 12-18, Ps 50, 2 Corinthians 5.20 to 6.2; Mk 6 1-6.16-18
Forgive us, Lord, for we have sinned

+ Mk 6 1-6.16-18

Beware not practicing your righteousness before men to be admired by them, otherwise there is no reward for you from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, they may be praised by people. Verily I say unto you, they have received their reward. Instead, when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what your right hand, so that your alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret will ricompenserà.E when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites do in the synagogues and at street corners, they love to pray standing in order to be seen by people. In truth I tell you, they have received their reward. Instead, when you pray, go into your room, close the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret will ricompenserà.E when you fast, do not become melancholy as the hypocrites do assume an air of defeat for others to see they are fasting. Verily I say unto you, they have received their ricompensa.Invece, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so people do not see that you are fasting except your Father who is in secret: and Father you, who sees in secret will reward you.

COMMENT

As every year, Lent is the suggestion of a path: almsgiving, fasting, prayer. But the insistence of Jesus about the hypocrisy of those who want to let others know what is pious and devout, have warned that this is not to make some sacrifices, say a prayer and remember more than once in a while the brothers in need, There is a call deepest and most essential change hearts, to be converted. Do not do something, but to become something different from what we are, more authentic, more real, more "with Christ."

reread in this regard a passage from the Letter to Diognetus, which is a bit 'the original poster of Christianity "(Christians) are in the flesh, but do not live in the flesh. They dwell on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the established laws, and their life surpasses the laws. " A wants to call this Lent: to detach ourselves from excessive attachment to our beliefs and our goods, to turn look up, not to settle for adherence to Christianity based on avoiding sin, but to open our hearts to the news of Jesus, to his infinite love, thinking our lives, our whole life, in the light of the Gospel.

The Father is in secret and sees in secret: there should be no fanfare, no advertising in our relationship with Him, because He wants to live in our hearts and talk to us with the exclusivity of ' love. It also reminds us of the secret of silence, the silence that surrounded Jesus in the forty days of temptation in the desert. Let silence, meditating on the Scripture without the many distractions and the buzz of the media, we consider silence to calm our life and make it better, let's silence that God speaks to us and we can hear the Word and sated that way, truth and life.

PV Grove