Gospel Thoughts*
*Ash Wednesday*
*GOSPEL - Mt 6:1-6, 16-18*
*First Reading - Jl 2:12-18*
*Second Reading - 2 Cor 5:20-6:2*
*Tear your hearts and not your garments*
*1) Significance of tearing something*
Tearing is one of the important things which we use in our day today life.
By tearing one can separate one thing from another
By tearing one can divine a particular things and make it two or more
By tearing we can pull out a particular thing which is no more needed
By tearing we put apart the same thing into two or more units
*2) Tearing of the heart*
Prophet Joel uses this expression as we begin the lent
Heart is a very important organ of the body and centre of all feeling
Heart is the symbol of love and it is the center of Feeling of the Love
*3) Why we have to tear the heart?
As we know that the heart is the centre of emotions and feeling
So one needs to tear from the heart all those emotions and feelings which do not help us to grow in our spiritual life
So this is the reason why we have to tear our heart and not the Garments
*4) Various things to tear from the Heart*
As we begin the lent there are many things to tear from the heart. Some of them may be following
We need to tear from our heart the feelings of hatred, jealousy, revengeful attitude and selfishness
We need to tear from our heart the feelings of gossip, unforgiveness, pride, greed, anger, and self-righteousness
We need to tear from our hearts the desire for money, power, sensual pleasures, wordly things, pomp and glory
We need to tear from our hearts the attitude of arrogance, cunningness, cheating, and hypocrisy
These are the various things that we need to tear from our hearts
*5) Tearing is a painful process*
Tearing is not easy. It is a very painful process. So it needs lots of efforts and determination
Some times we need to use so much of force to tear a particular thing.
Some times tearing leaves a permanent mark and it is not easy to hide it
Even then we have to use this technique in tearing so many things in our day today life
So even in our spiritual life the same logic is used and we need to take care in tearing the bad things from our hearts inorder to purify our life
*6) Jesus gives us Three important things to tear our hearts*
*Prayer* - Lent gives special significance to prayer and this technique of prayer can be used to tear unholy things from our hearts.
This is a very powerful technique
*Fasting* Another powerful technique to tear the unnecessary and useless things from our heart.
This technique has very good effect in bringing the desired results
*Almsgiving* - This is very practical and challenging technique to tear or to pullout all the unholy things from our hearts
By using these three techniques one can definitely tear ones hearts from all unholy things and make it pure and holy
*7) Lent begins with tearing the heart*
If lent begins with this gesture means we can understand the gravity and importance of this - tearing of the heart
Lent can't be made fruitful unless we tear our hearts from unholy things
So let us begin this holy season of Lent by tearing our own hearts and making it pure and holy
*Wish you a fruitful and effective Season of Lent/Grace*
*Wish you a grace filled Ash Wednesday*
*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*
*Fr Maxim Dsouza*
*Jeppu Seminary*
*Mangalore*
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