On the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 6: 1 – 6, 16 – 18
Happy beginning of our 40 days of Lent to prepare ourselves in a very special way for the central salvation mystery in Christianity, Easter. Marking the climax of God’s redemptive plan through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Today we begin our fortyday journey of Lent. It is not just a tradition we repeat every year. It is a serious and beautiful invitation from the Church to prepare our hearts for Easter the heart of our faith, where we celebrate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Ash Wednesday sets the tone. The ashes we receive today remind us that we are fragile, that life is short, and that we are completely dependent on God. But they also remind us of hope. We are not marked with ashes to shame us, but to awaken us. We are being called back.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks very directly about three important practices: alms giving, prayer, and fasting. These are not optional extras in the Christian life. During Lent, they become our spiritual focus, our tools, even our weapons.
When we decide to take Lent seriously, we are making a decision to fight against sin in our lives. The devil does not like when we grow closer to God. Temptations may increase. Distractions may become stronger. But the Church does not send us into this battle empty handed. She gives us three powerful weapons: prayer, fasting, and alms giving.
First, prayer.
Jesus warns us not to pray to impress others. Prayer is not a performance. It is not about being seen as holy. Real prayer happens in the quiet, in that personal space between you and God. When Jesus says, “Go into your room and shut the door,” He is reminding us that prayer is relationship. It is honest conversation with our Father.
During Lent, we should deepen our prayer life. Maybe we attend daily Mass more often. Maybe we spend more time reading Scripture. Maybe we make a sincere confession. Even setting aside a few extra quiet minutes each day can make a difference. God sees what no one else sees.
Second, fasting.
Fasting is more than just skipping meals. Yes, we fast from food, and that is important. But fasting is really about discipline. It teaches us that we are not controlled by our desires. It strengthens our will.
We can fast from things that pull us away from God, the unhealthy habits, too much screen time that we find ourselves addicted to like social media, the negative speech we throw at each other without taking a minute to reflect on the damage they may cause, gossip, impatience. Fasting exposes our weaknesses, but it also strengthens us. It reminds us that we do not live by comfort alone.
Third, alms giving.
Alms giving turns our focus outward. It pushes us beyond ourselves. Jesus tells us not to “sound a trumpet” when we give. Charity is not about recognition. It is about love.
Lent is a time to be more generous than usual, not only with money, but with our time, kindness, forgiveness, and attention. There are people around us who need encouragement, support, and compassion. When we give quietly and sincerely, God sees it.
The message from the Book of Joel fits perfectly with this Gospel:
“Return to me with all your heart… tear your hearts and not your garments.”
God is not interested in our outward appearances if our hearts remain unchanged. The people in Joel’s time faced disaster and suffering, and they had to ask themselves hard questions. Had they drifted from God? Had they made poor choices? Instead of blaming God, they were called to examine their own hearts.
That is what Lent asks of us too.
It is a time for honest reflection.
It is a time to admit where we have failed.
It is a time to return.
We live in a world where it is easy to blame others, to blame circumstances, even to blame God. But Lent calls us inward. Asking us: Where do I need conversion? What habits are keeping me from growing spiritually? How can I love better?
This journey will not always feel and be easy. Some days we may get through feeling strong and motivated. Other days we may struggle. But Lent is not about being perfect. It is about being sincere. If we fall, we rise again. If we fail in our resolutions, we begin again. God is patient and always with us.
If we truly embrace prayer, fasting, and alms giving, something inside us will change. By the time Easter arrives, we will not only celebrate Christ’s Resurrection, we will experience renewal within ourselves. We will have allowed something sinful to die, and something holy to grow. We will have grown closer to God, and become better children of the Lord.
That is the goal of Lent: real conversion, real renewal, real closeness to God.
May this Lenten season not pass us by like any other. May it truly be a spiritual springtime in our lives.
Let us Pray
Heavenly Father,
As we begin this Lenten journey, we come before You with humble hearts. You see us as we truly are our strengths, our weaknesses, our struggles, and our desires. Help us to return to You with sincerity.
Teach us to pray with honesty, to fast with discipline, and to give with generosity. Strengthen us when we are tempted. Lift us when we fall. Purify our hearts so that our faith may be real and not just outward.
May these forty days draw us closer to You and prepare us to celebrate Easter with renewed joy. Let something new grow within us deeper faith, stronger hope, and greater love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.