Ash Wednesday: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima
LENT: TIME FOR
SPECIAL SPIRITUAL JOURNEY WITH JESUS
Readings: Joel
2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6.16-18
Dear brothers and
sisters in Christ, the period of Lent in the Church begins on Ash Wednesday and
leads into Holy Week. It is a season of forty days, calling us to remember the
forty days and nights Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying.
The primary purpose of
Lent is to prepare us for the celebration of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. The
Church seeks to guide us toward metanoia—true repentance—by helping us
reorder our priorities and transform our values, ideals, and ambitions through
fasting, prayer, almsgiving, and self‑control. These three practices form the
traditional pillars of Lent, the tripod on which every Christian stands during
this sacred season.
Through prayer,
we make room for God in our lives and express our desire for a deeper
relationship with Him. During this Lent, it is important to devote more time to
prayer and remain faithful to our prayer commitments.
Through fasting,
we deny ourselves certain things so that we may share with others, especially
those in need. Fasting also helps us create more space for God, remembering
that we do not live on bread alone but on the spiritual nourishment of God’s
Word. Fasting disciplines the body and brings its desires under the guidance of
the Spirit.
Through almsgiving,
we share what we have received from the Lord in a spirit of solidarity and
communion.
The readings of today
reflect the themes of true repentance, returning to God, and the three
traditional expectations of every Christian: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
In the first
reading, the prophet Joel invites the people to return to God with their
whole hearts—a call to genuine repentance. He urges them: “Tear your hearts
and not your garments.” He calls for fasting, weeping, and mourning,
reminding them that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in
steadfast love. Dear friends, this same message is addressed to us today as we
begin our Lenten journey. The Church reminds us that we have a loving and
merciful God. Let us approach Him with repentant hearts. He waits for us with
open arms, ready to forgive and receive us. Let us turn away from anything that
leads us to reject His mercy. Let us avoid sin and do good. Let us change our
evil ways and seek the ways of God. This is the moment.
In the Gospel,
Jesus teaches His disciples—and all of us—how to pray, fast, and give alms. He
warns us not to perform these acts to be seen or praised by others. We must
avoid ostentation and pride in our Lenten observances. Humility should be our
watchword. Dear friends, this is a time to pick up our rosaries and pray, a
time to open the Bible and reflect on the eternal Word of God. Fasting from
food is good, but the best fasting is fasting from sin. Let us fast from
gossip, lies, immorality, hatred, discrimination, anger, and every form of
wrongdoing.
In the second
reading, St. Paul urges us to be reconciled with God—and also with our
friends and families. He reminds us that now, during this Lent, is the
acceptable time; this is the day of salvation.
The ashes that will be
placed on our heads today signify our fragility and mortality. They remind us
of our need for God’s mercy. They show that we are dust before God, and to dust
we shall return. If our bodies will one day return to ashes, then we must not
lose our souls in the process of caring for our bodies.
Dear friends in
Christ, the liturgical colour of Lent is purple or violet. It represents the
spirit of penance that marks this important season in the Church. With
sincerity of heart, let us make the most of this sacred time through prayer,
fasting, and almsgiving.
Peace be with you.
Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima
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