Friday after Ash Wednesday
Mystery of the Day: Sorrowful
Table of the Word: I R: Isaiah 58:1-9
Resp. Psalm: Psalm 51
Verse before the Gospel: Amos 5:14
Gospel: Matthew 9:14 -15
Theme: A Call for Genuine Piety.
Inspiration:
We
are already in the third day of our Lenten walk with the Lord. Let pause awhile
and ponder on the journey so far. Some may ask: Is it not too early to think of
that? Others may agree with me. Then the fact of the matter is not how long the
walk is, but how well so far. Today’s first reading from the prophecy of Isaiah
(58:1-9) reminded us the obstacles to salvation. The said reading taken from
the third Isaiah expounded in details what is required of us Christians
(Catholics in particular) this season.
Here the author presents before us two kinds of fasting,
and condemned in strong terms the sort of fast that does not impress God (cf.
Is. 58:5), while endorsing the nature that pleases the Lord in the following
verse of the said scriptural passage. He further objected outward piety while
calling on us to practice interior life of holiness without “public show-off.”
In this season of Lent, while carrying out our Lenten observances let us ask
God in His mercy to give us the grace for interior piety and not outward eye
service to please men. For in doing this our reward will be great. Remember
to observe fast/abstinence and take a journey with Him in the fourteen Stations of
the Cross. PEACE BE WITH YOU!
THOUGHT
FOR TODAY
“We must fast with our whole heart, that is to say,
willingly, wholeheartedly, universally and entirely"
– St. Francis de Sales
Let us pray
For
your mighty deeds, O God of mercy, may we offer endless thanks, and by
observing the age-long disciplines along our pilgrim journey, may we merit to
come and behold you forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 16022024
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