MIYERKULES NG ABO
Mateo 6:1-6,16-21
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
BACKGROUND
Ash Wednesday, in Western Christianity, the first day of Lent, occurring six and a half weeks before Easter (between February 4 and March 11, depending on the date of Easter). It is immediately preceded by Shrove Tuesday. Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season. It is commonly observed with the distribution of ashes and with fasting.
It was the practice in Rome for penitents and grievous sinners to begin their period of public penance on the first day of Lent in preparation for their restoration to the sacrament of the Eucharist. They were sprinkled with ashes, dressed in sackcloth, and obliged to remain apart until they were reconciled with the Christian community on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. When these practices fell into disuse (8th–10th century), the beginning of the penitential season of Lent was symbolized by placing ashes on the heads of the entire congregation.
Today, the ashes are applied in the shape of a cross on the forehead of each worshipper on Ash Wednesday. These ashes are obtained by burning the palms used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday service. Receiving ashes is not one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Churches; therefore, anyone who wishes to receive ashes may do so, regardless of age, religion, or personal standing in the church.
The ashes serve as a memento mori and are often accompanied with some variation of the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Together with Good Friday (which marks the Crucifixion of Jesus on the Friday before Easter Sunday), Ash Wednesday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence. Although Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, mass on this day is traditionally one of the most heavily attended non-Sunday masses of the liturgical year.
Sa Panahon ng Kuwaresma. binibigyan tayo ng apatnapung araw upang ihanda ang ating sarili at alalahanin ang pagpapakasakit, pagkamatay at muling pagka-buhay ng Panginoon. Sa Banal na kasulatan, ang bilang na kuwarenta ay simbolo ng pagbabago: Umulan sa loob ng apatnapung araw nang panahon ni Noah nang nagkaroon ng isang Malaking Baha; nanatili si Moises ng apatnapung araw sa Sinai nang tinanggap niya ang Sampung Utos; at nag-ayuno si Jesus sa loob ng apatnapung araw sa ilang, bago simulan ang kanyang ministeryo.
REFLECTION
Sa unang araw na ito sa Panahon ng Kuwaresma, inaanyayahan tayong magnilay: Una, tungkol sa pagkakawanggawa: Pangalawa, tungkol sa pananalangin; at Pangatlo, tungkol sa pag-aayuno o pagsasakripisyo. Nakakatulong ang mga gawaing ito sa ating espirituwal na buhay, bilang mga Kristiyano.
Sa mga panahong ito, nawa'y maging makabuluhan ang mga pagkakawanggawa, pananalangin at pagsasakripisyo na isasagawa natin upang higit nating mapapa-lalim ang pakikipag-ugnayan at pagkakakilala natin sa Panginoon. Sa ganitong paraan, matitiyak natin ang pagbabago ng ating puso. Makapagsimula muli tayong maglingkod bilang mga alagad, at magbalik-loob sa Panginoon.
Kabi-kabila ang mga balitang with alarming images of the devastating wildfires around the world, which are on the increase due to global warming. Communities of people flee for their lives, leaving their homes and possessions, and when they return, all is ASH O ABO. For all our discoveries and developments, human existence is still fragile and the things we build return to dust, just as we do. Tayo’y mula sa alabok at magbabalik sa alabok.
Ash Wednesday is a reminder of our frailty to burst our pride, to remind us of what is important and of where our life is leading. There is repentance for our pride as we receive our ashes at Mass, but Lent is also hope-filled, as in our frailty we hope in God's merciful love. Our Lenten practices of increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving all serve to focus the mind and re-attune the heart, so that we can renew our friendship with the Lord. Life is filled with so much to do, and so much to distract us.
Ash Wednesday is like the trumpet call, telling us not to leave it to another day, but to renew our commitment today, because "Now is the acceptable time;... now is the day of salvation."
"Pag-ingatan ninyo na huwag maging pakitang-tao lamang ang paggawa ninyo ng mabuti. Kapag ganyan ang ginawa ninyo, wala kayong matatamong gantimpala buhat sa inyong Amang nasa langit." Sa pagsisimula ng Kuwaresma, nilalagyan ng Simbahan ng abo ang ulo ng kanyang mga anak upang ipahayag ang pagsisisi at pagtalikod sa kasalanan.
CONCLUSION
Ang tandang ito ay panlabas na pagpapahayag ng ating pagnanais magbalik sa kabanalan. Higit dito ay maliwanag na tanda ito para sa ating mga sarili na samantalahin ang pagkakataon upang magbalik-loob sa Diyos. Ito ay nagsisilbing hamon sa atin upang talikdan ang gawang masama at mamuhay ng kalugod-lugod sa Diyos. Ito ay isang tanda na saglit lamang ang ating buhay at ito ay dapat gugulin sa gawang nararapat sa paningin ng Diyos.
Ang saglit na buhay natin ay dapat gugulin sa pananabik sa langit na siyang tunay nating tahanan. Magpatuloy tayo sa ating pagkakawanggawa, pananalangin at pagsasakripisyo. Simulan natin ang banal na panahong ito sa pagkilala na tayo ay abo: abang-aba, hamak na dumi lamang ngunit tinubos ni Kristo sa krus upang makapiling niya muli sa langit sa muling pagkabuhay.
+ Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Espiritu Santo. Amen
