COLLECT: “SHOW GRACIOUS FAVOUR, O LORD, WE PRAY, TO THE WORKS OF PENANCE WE HAVE BEGUN, THAT WE MAY HAVE STRENGTH TO ACCOMPLISH WITH SINCERITY THE BODILY OBSERVANCE WE UNDERTAKE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Is 58:1-9a; Ps 50:3-6,18-19 and Mt 9:14-15.
Lent is traditionally a time of penance; genuine, sincere and true penance and repentance. This entails not just fasting from certain foods and drinks, but fasting from self or self-centeredness, fasting from sinful deeds. In the portion of the scripture passage of the Book of Isaiah we meditate on today, Isaiah offers us a “what-to-do-list as well as a “what-not-to-do-list” regarding true, genuine and sincere fasting.
The “what-not-to-do-list” has it that, we should not ‘carry out our own pursuits and businesses, we should not oppress our labourers, we should not end our fasting in quarrelling and fighting and we should not strike with wicked claw or fist’. The true, genuine and sincere fasting, which is pleasing to God contains the following in the Isaiahian “what-to-do-list”: when we are fasting, we should release the fetters of those bound unjustly and untie the throngs of their yokes. We should set free those who are oppressed, we should break every yoke that people are carrying and share our bread with those who are hungry. During fasting, we should give shelter to the oppressed and the homeless, and we should clothe those who are naked but not turn our back to them. We should take care of our neighbours (Cf. Is 58:1-9). This is also the list of works or deeds of mercy and charity that God will use to judge us on the Day of Judgment (Cf. Mt 25:31-46).
In fact, genuine and sincere fasting should be devoid of wicked and cruel treatment given to people especially the poor and the oppressed. It should also be devoid of bribery and corruption, cheating, stealing, disobedience, as well as all the evil and devilish things that we do in our lives. May we learn during this Season of Lent to release or free those people in our families, offices, Churches, political parties, etc., we have imprisoned in our hearts. May our Lenten observances be true, genuine and sincere, devoid of any hypocritical and pretentious actions. May the Lord grant us the graces, strength and energy, as well as the patience to humbly come back to him to forgive us and bless us.
Today is Friday in Lent. It is a day of fasting and abstinence. Do something good for someone in your family, workplace, Church, or political party. Also, present or drop what you have not spent today in the Lenten Box for the poor and the needy. Stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, FRIDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “WE PRAY, ALMIGHTY GOD, THAT THROUGH PARTAKING OF THIS MYSTERY, WE MAY BE CLEANSED OF ALL OUR MISDEEDS, AND SO BE SUITED FOR THE REMEDIES OF YOUR COMPASSION. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@ytoo.com
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!