Reflection for February 18 Ash Wednesday (Fasting and Abstinence): Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: 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.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

The story is told about a man who had the habit of showing off the good and pious acts he did through social media. For example, when he attended Mass, he would take pictures and post them on his Facebook account. He did the same when performing acts of compassion, hoping that others would notice what he was doing.

If we reflect deeply, we may realize that, at times, we too can fall into the same temptation — the desire to be seen, appreciated, and affirmed by others for the good that we do. Yet this Ash Wednesday, the Gospel gently but firmly calls us back to what truly matters.

The three core teachings of the Gospel this Ash Wednesday are almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Unlike many of our social media posts — pictures, comments, likes, and reactions — where we sometimes seek recognition, we are being lovingly invited by Jesus to turn away from selfish and ego-driven tendencies and return to a life centered on God.

In almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, Jesus invites us to do these noble acts quietly, humbly, and sincerely. When we help others, when we pray, and when we fast, we are encouraged to do so not for praise or attention, but out of love for God and love for others. When we choose humility over recognition, our hearts slowly become more like the heart of Christ.

When we do our good deeds away from the prying eyes of others, our Heavenly Father, who sees what is hidden, blesses us in ways deeper than public recognition ever could. The quiet transformation of our hearts becomes the greatest reward we can ever receive.

At the same time, Lent is a sacred invitation for us to reflect on our lives — especially our relationship with Jesus and the sins that weigh us down. When we examine our hearts, we must ask ourselves: Will we allow our sins to remain, or will we humbly surrender them to God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Our sins can slowly pull us farther away from God. If we are not attentive, we may drift away from His love without even realizing it. Yet God never stops calling us back. His mercy is always waiting. His love is always ready to embrace us again.

None of us truly desires a life separated from God’s love. Deep within our hearts, we long for peace, forgiveness, healing, and true joy — all of which can only be found in Him.

Therefore, this Ash Wednesday and throughout the Lenten season, let us enter into deeper spiritual reflection. Let us look honestly at our sinfulness, the fragility of our lives, and the depth of our personal relationship with Jesus. Let us return to Him with humble and sincere hearts, trusting that He is always ready to receive us.

As we walk this Lenten journey together, may we choose humility over recognition, repentance over pride, and love over self-glory.— Marino J. Dasmarinas