The Beginning of Lent - Invitation to Repentance, Renewal, and Authenticity
Lent is a season that invites us to reflect deeply on our lives, not simply as individuals but as members of the larger human family. It is a time to repent, to turn away from sin, and to renew our commitment to live more fully according to God’s will. Ash Wednesday, in its simplicity, calls us to remember our mortality and our need for God’s grace. The ashes on our foreheads remind us: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." But the ashes also symbolize something more: the invitation to spiritual renewal. This season of Lent offers us a chance to pause and ask ourselves: How have we lived our faith? Have we been authentic in our relationship with God and with one another?
In today’s Gospel from Matthew (6:1-6, 16-18), Jesus teaches us that our acts of faith—our almsgiving, our prayers, our fasting—should not be for the sake of outward appearances, but rather for the sake of a sincere and humble heart. “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them,” He says. Lent is an invitation to move beyond the superficial and focus on the authenticity of our relationship with God. It is about deepening our personal commitment to live the Gospel through humble acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
As we enter this season, we are called not just to give up things for the sake of sacrifice, but to become more authentically who we are as disciples of Christ.
Alay Kapwa 50 - Call to Hope Amidst Struggle
This year, we celebrate 50 years of Alay Kapwa reminding us of our shared responsibility, our kapwa, and the call to hope amidst struggle. The theme, "Kapwa Ko, Pananagutan Ko, 50 Taon ng Pag-Asa," resonates powerfully with the spirit of Lent. This celebration is not just a reflection on the past, but a challenge for us today: How can we be a people of hope, even in the midst of hardship and difficulty? For five decades, Alay Kapwa has served as a spring of hope, particularly for the marginalized, the poor, and the suffering. Its work has provided practical aid, but it has also offered a deeper, spiritual message: that we are all responsible for one another. Alay Kapwa invites us to see beyond our own needs and recognize the dignity of the other, particularly those in most need of our care and attention.
The Gospel today reminds us that Lent is a time not just for personal renewal, but for a renewal of our communal commitment to those who suffer. When Jesus talks about fasting, He is not just calling us to deny ourselves for the sake of sacrifice but to open our hearts to the needs of others. The ashes remind us that we are dust, but we are also part of a larger family.
The anniversary of Alay Kapwa challenges us to live out that responsibility by becoming agents of hope. This is not just a theoretical hope, but one that is rooted in practical service. It is a hope that refuses to ignore the struggles of others, a hope that sees in every person, not a stranger, but a fellow human being—our kapwa. And this hope is not passive—it is one that demands action.
Lent provides us with an opportunity to embrace this call to hope and to reflect on how we, as individuals and as a community, can continue to serve in the spirit of Alay Kapwa. How can our fasting and prayer this season inspire us to live more intentionally in solidarity with the poor and marginalized? How can we, as a Church, continue to be a source of hope in a world that so often seems filled with despair?
As we begin this Lenten season, let us take to heart the call to authentic repentance and renewal. May the ashes on our foreheads remind us that we are dust, but also that we are capable of transformation through God’s grace. Let this Lent be a time not just of personal renewal, but also of deepened commitment to our shared responsibility for one another.
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