Beloved, we are all sinners in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. Lent is a time to return to the Lord with all our hearts. It is that privileged moment of grace St. Paul envisaged, in our Second Reading (2Cor 5:20-6:2), saying, “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.  Behold, now [the Lenten Season] is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  He was citing Isaiah’s prophecy of God’s restoration of Israel from political, cultural, ideological tyranny of their time (cf. Isa 49:8-13).  We are God’s people (cf. 1Pet 2:9), the New Israel; hence, St. Paul applies the same passage to our present circumstances. Why do we suffer from political, cultural, ideological upheavals?  S-I-N: “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23); “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).  Hence, Lent is the most acceptable time for the forgiveness of sins, anticipating Easter restoration.

In our First Reading (Joel 2:12-18), God declares through Prophet Joel, “Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; assemble the elders, gather the children, and the infants at the breast….” Beloved, God is calling for communal repentance in order that He may grant us communal transformation and healing. All must repent “with fasting, and weeping, and mourning.”  God wants inward repentance, not outward show: “Rend your hearts, not your garments.”  Everyone must be involved in all the Lenten Observances: the receiving of Ashes, the Stations of the Cross every Friday, the Lenten Retreat, Penance Service and Reconciliation, fasting and abstinence, and greater commitment to giving in time, talent and treasure. Above all, all must take an active part in the Holy Week ceremonies and Easter Mass.

In our Gospel passage (Matt 6:1-6, 16-18), Jesus instructs us to make our Lenten observances a fruitful devotion acceptable to God, insisting that, individually, we must avoid every form of hypocrisy when we fast, pray or give alms. There is no place for seeking vain glory.  We should be weeping over our past and present sins, not seeking applause from anyone. The good acts we do now are only acts of restitution for our past debt of sins that can hardly be paid off.  Scripture says, “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags” in the eyes of God (Isa 64:6; NIV). Somebody owning huge Credit Card payments past overdue does not expect praises for repaying a very insignificant portion of the debt. The debt of our sins is too great that we can never pay it off. We may fast, pray and give alms forever and the debt will still be overwhelming. So let no one be carried away by the insignificant sacrifices we make during Lent. Christ’s mercy and forgiveness is our ultimate hope of redemption, restoration and salvation.