ASH WEDNESDAY Mt 6/1-6, 16-18 Fr. Dr. Patrick Merceline D’Souza

Описание: ASH WEDNESDAY Mt 6/1-6, 16-18 Fr. Dr. Patrick Merceline D’Souza
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent which is a 40-day season of fasting, reflection and penance.It ends in Holy Week and the Easter Sunday.
The Holy Week comprises the seven days leading up to Easter. It contains the following important events in the life of Christ: Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, The betrayal of Jesus, The commemoration of the Last Supper and the Passion of Jesus. Holy Week ends with Christ's death and descent into hell.
Easter Sunday commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus.
Ash is used by the clergy to place a mark of the cross on foreheads of the people symbolizing that we humans are mortals. According to Genesis, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground--because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:19)
By placing a mark of the cross on foreheads of the people
we are invited to repent for our sins.
Therefore, we should never forget these two realities of our life:
i) Our Mortality: We humans are mortal beings. One day all of us are surely going to die. Therefore, though it is our duty to work hard and earn to live a good life and provide good things for our children and for those who depend on us, we need to always keep in mind that we are not here to live for thousands of years. One day we will have to leave this planet and go to our Heavenly Father.
2)
ii) The Final Judgement: There will be the final judgement after our death and we will be rewarded for our good deeds and punished for our evil deeds. Therefore, we need to strive constantly to live a good life according to the teachings of Jesus and when we fail in doing so, we need to make a good confession and begin a new life in the Spirit.
On the Ash Wednesday we are reminded of the following two important teachings of Jesus:
1) Helping the Needy Secretly (Matthew 6:1-6) And
2) Praying Secretly (Mt 16-18)