Ash Wednesday Holy Mass in Odia l ପବିତ୍ର ଦିବ୍ୟ ଯଂଜ୍ଞ l ତପସ୍ୟା କାଳ l ଭଷ୍ମ ବୁଧବାର l ଫା.ଅଜିତ l ଫା.ଧିରେନ

Описание: On 18th February 2026, the Church enters into the sacred and grace-filled season of Lent through the solemn celebration of Ash Wednesday. This is not just another day in the Church calendar — it is the spiritual doorway to a 40-day journey of repentance, renewal, sacrifice, and transformation.

Join us LIVE at 6:30 AM for the Holy Mass in Odia from St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Paralakhemundi.

Celebrant:
Most Rev Fr Ajit Kumar Nayak – Parish Priest

Co-Celebrant:
Most Rev Fr Dhirendra Kumar Nayak – Assistant Parish Priest

On this holy day, ashes will be blessed and imposed on the faithful as a visible sign of repentance and humility. The ashes remind us of two powerful truths:

• We are dust and to dust we shall return.
• Without God, we are nothing.
But Lent is not about fear — it is about hope. It is about returning to a loving Father who is always ready to forgive.


📖 First Reading – Joel 2:12–18
“Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

The Prophet Joel speaks to a people who have drifted away from God. Instead of punishing them immediately, God invites them back. He says, “Tear your hearts, not your garments.”

God does not want external drama. He wants inner transformation.
Sometimes we attend Mass, pray prayers, and perform rituals — but our hearts remain unchanged. Joel challenges us:
Is our repentance real?

Are we truly sorry for our sins?
Lent is a call to break our pride, soften our hearts, and return sincerely to the Lord. When we take one step toward God, He runs toward us with mercy.

📖 Second Reading – 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2

“We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

St Paul speaks urgently. He does not say tomorrow. He says NOW is the acceptable time. NOW is the day of salvation.

We often delay conversion.
We postpone confession.
We ignore our spiritual life.
But life is uncertain. Grace is available today. Lent is God’s personal invitation to rebuild our broken relationship with Him.

Reconciliation is not only about confession — it is about restoring peace in families, forgiving those who hurt us, and letting go of anger and jealousy.

If we begin this Lent seriously, our Easter will be powerful.

📖 Gospel – Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18
Jesus teaches about the three pillars of Lent:

1️⃣ Prayer
Not to impress others, but to connect deeply with the Father.
True prayer changes our heart.

2️⃣ Fasting
Not just from food — but from sin.
Fast from anger.
Fast from gossip.
Fast from bad habits.
Fasting strengthens self-control and teaches sacrifice.

3️⃣ Almsgiving
Charity given quietly from love.
Helping the poor, supporting the Church, caring for those in need.
Deep Meaning:
Jesus warns against hypocrisy. Lent is not about showing others how holy we are. It is about secret faithfulness. God sees what is hidden.
When we pray sincerely, fast humbly, and give generously, God transforms us from within.

🌿 THE TRUE SPIRIT OF LENT

Lent is a spiritual desert experience. Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the desert preparing for His mission, we are called to spend these 40 days preparing our hearts.

Lent asks us: • What is separating me from God?

• What must I change in my life?
• How can I grow spiritually?

This season reminds us that the Cross comes before the Resurrection. Sacrifice comes before glory. Repentance leads to joy.
If we take Lent seriously: Our families will change.

Our hearts will soften.
Our faith will deepen.

LENTEN PRAYER

Merciful Father,
As we receive ashes, remind us of our weakness and Your mercy.
Break our pride and cleanse our hearts.
Give us courage to confess our sins and forgive others.

Help us to pray more deeply, fast more sincerely, and give more generously.
Let this Lent not pass without transformation.
Lead us from ashes to resurrection.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

ଲେଣ୍ଟ ହେଉଛି ଆତ୍ମ ପରୀକ୍ଷାର ସମୟ।
ପ୍ରଭୁ କହୁଛନ୍ତି — “ତୁମ ହୃଦୟ ସହିତ ମୋ ପାଖକୁ ଫେର।”
ଆମେ କେବଳ ବାହ୍ୟ ଉପବାସ କରିବା ନୁହେଁ, ହୃଦୟର ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଆଣିବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ।
ସେଣ୍ଟ ପୌଲ କହୁଛନ୍ତି — “ଏବେ ହେଉଛି ମୋକ୍ଷର ସମୟ।”
ଯିଶୁ ଆମକୁ ଶିଖାଉଛନ୍ତି ଯେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା, ଉପବାସ ଓ ଦାନ ଗୁପ୍ତରେ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।
ଏହି ଲେଣ୍ଟ ଆମ ଜୀବନରେ ସତ୍ୟ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଆଣୁ।
ପଶ୍ଚାତାପ ଆମକୁ ପବିତ୍ର କରୁ।
ଖ୍ରୀଷ୍ଟଙ୍କ ପ୍ରେମ ଆମ ହୃଦୟକୁ ପୁନଃଜୀବନ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ।

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