Cycle A - Year I:  

Ash Wednesday, 22 February 2023 

(Liturgical Color: Violet)

Readings:

First Reading:        Joel 2:12-18

Second Reading:   2 Corinthians 5:20--6:2

Gospel:  Please Read  Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 

"Repent and believe in the Gospel."

ASH WEDNESDAY, in the Roman Catholic Church, is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday falls on February 22 this year 2023.

The Church celebrates Ash Wednesday forty-six days before Easter Sunday (the latter is celebrated on April 9, 2023.)

Short Gospel Reflection:

The Gospel proclamation is from Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. Jesus tells His disciples to be careful not to parade one's righteousness to attract people's attention, and He criticizes those who do good just to be seen by others.

The ritual of putting ashes on our forehead is actually an external sign that others may think contradicts the very admonition of our Lord Jesus "not to parade one's righteousness to attract attention".

But more than the activity or ritual itself, Jesus is really highlighting our motivation behind our actions.  It is not enough to do the right thing or the ritual, we have to do it for the right reasons. And as people who are saved by the grace of God, our motivation for everything we do should be of gratitude to God.

Blessing and Distribution of Ashes:

It is called Ash Wednesday because literally ashes are distributed within the Holy Mass.  These ashes are normally from the burning of the blessed palm branches of the previous year's Palm Sunday.

The priest prepares and blesses the ashes after his homily. Then the imposition of ashes to the faithful follows, with the help of Lay Ministers. As they mark the ashes on our forehead, the say the following prescribed formula:

"Repent and believe in the Gospel." Or  

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."     

Day of Repentance:

The symbolism of the distribution of ashes reminds us of our own mortality, and calls us to repent of our sins.

Fasting and Abstinence:

The Church emphasizes the penitential nature of Ash Wednesday by calling us to fast and abstain from eating meat.

Fasting is mandatory from ages 18 to 60. This means they can eat only one complete mean and two smaller ones during Ash Wednesday, with no other food intake in-between.

Abstinence covers those from age 14 and above, and are required to refrain from eating any meat, or any food made with meat on Ash Wednesday.

A Journey of Hope:

The Lenten Season is a fitting time to climb the holy mountain of Easter. It is our Journey of Hope towards our redemption from sin, when our Lord Jesus Christ rises from the dead on EASTER SUNDAY.

A blessed Ash Wednesday to everyone. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!