Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Joel 2:12-18

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14-17

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Take care not to perform righteous deeds

in order that people may see them;

otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms,

do not blow a trumpet before you,

as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets

to win the praise of others.

Amen, I say to you,

they have received their reward.

But when you give alms,

do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,

so that your almsgiving may be secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray,

do not be like the hypocrites,

who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners

so that others may see them.

Amen, I say to you,

they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go to your inner room,

close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast,

do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.

They neglect their appearance,

so that they may appear to others to be fasting.

Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you fast,

anoint your head and wash your face,

so that you may not appear to be fasting,

except to your Father who is hidden.

And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you offer me this sacred time of forty days to repent and grow closer to you. Help me to imitate your Son this Lent and detach myself from the things of this world, Help me to see and respond to the needs of those around me.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Return to God: Lent is a sacred time to return to God. However, if we rely solely on our efforts, we are powerless to return to God with all our hearts. Now, there is a power that can bring us back to God, and this power springs from God’s own heart. This is the power of God’s merciful grace. Returning to God is a grace and the fruit of our faith in God’s mercy. In faith, we should invite God into our lives and allow him to transform, renew, and convert our hearts. The prophet Joel invites us as a community to sincere and authentic repentance and not to a superficial conversion. This is the meaning of tear your hearts, not your garments. Any outward sign of repentance – like ashes on our forehead or fasting or abstinence from certain foods – is meaningless unless it is accompanied by inner conversion of heart.

2. Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting: In the Gospel, Jesus reinterprets the three fundamental practices prescribed by the Law of Moses: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. These three practices are called righteous deeds. While sin increases our debt to God, righteous deeds store up treasure in heaven. Jesus encourages all three practices but puts us on guard as to our motive. If we do these things merely to be seen and praised by others, we will receive our recompense here on earth – the fleeting praise and admiration of others. However, if we do these things with a pure heart, our Father in heaven will give us our heavenly recompense! Almsgiving not only detaches us from the attraction of earthly wealth but also alleviates the suffering of the poor. Prayer not only detaches us from our own will but also deepens our communion with God. Fasting not only detaches us from certain good pleasures but also strengthens our will so that we can resist the temptation of disordered pleasure.

3. Store Up Heavenly Treasure: Lent is a wonderful time to store up heavenly treasure. In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray that our debt of sin be forgiven, but also that God’s will be accomplished here on earth. God wills that we fast, pray, and give alms this Lent. These works and Lenten practices, empowered by his grace, done with pure intention, and united to Christ, will store up true heavenly treasure with God our Father!

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you spent forty days in the desert. You fasted and prayed and were victorious over the devil’s temptations. You have given me a wonderful model to follow. I earnestly desire this Lent to share in your victory over sin and temptation.

Resolution: If I could see a ledger of my heavenly bank account, what would I see? An unforgiven debt of sin or a credit of heavenly treasure, of good works empowered by God’s grace? What, in my life, needs to be forgiven? And what good works can I do during this season of Lent?