-
-
 BE
RECONCILED WITH GOD
- Ash Wednesday Sermon
of Fr. Agustinus Tupen Belo, PR
- Parish Priest of
St. Joseph, Duri, Indonesia as translated by Dan Viray
-
-
-
A sticker can be seen in a car windshield with the
following words: “Do not do for tomorrow what you can do for today. If you
postpone what you can do today, you will realize that laziness will become
your friend.” This saying serves as a warning, even a reprimand, for
people who always waste time and opportunity. This also serves as an
advice for those who think that time and opportunity will not end today,
that there will be more opportunities tomorrow.
-
-
Today, we gather together to begin the season of Lent. In
starting our Lenten season, we are all invited to leave or release our old
self behind so that we can put on a new self.
-
-
In the First Reading, the prophet Joel is waking us up to
stir our hearts, meaning we should have a new heart. To have a new
heart, it is necessary for us to dig up the sins and wickedness that are
hidden inside our hearts. This is the correct Lent, Lent which touches
the heart of God. With true and proper Lent, God is pleased to accept our
repentance and will forgive our sins and mistakes.
-
-
In the Second Reading, Saint Paul reminds us that this is
the right time to be reconciled to God. Because God’s gift of love
can be seen in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, whom He sent to the
world to reconcile sinful men with God, His Father in Heaven. Because of
this, it is absolutely necessary that each one of us should take this
opportunity to repair our broken relationship with God due to our sins and
wickedness, which we do willfully and intentionally.
-
-
In the Gospel, Matthew invites us to fast, give alms and
pray sincerely, hoping that our intentions are pure and not
hypocritical. Pretentious acts do not please our God. Fasting,
almsgiving and prayer with a hidden purpose like showing off our
greatness, seeking praises and putting up oneself will be rejected by
God. This will show that we want to be proud in front of our Lord, when
what He requires from us is sincerity of our hearts.
-
-
For us, Lent is a season full of mercy. A time of
salvation. It is during this time when we try, as much as we can, to
reflect on our individual life’s journey especially to recognize the sin
and weakness of our humanity.
-
-
It cannot be denied that we are broken human beings because
we live according to the desire of the flesh and choose the way of
darkness. So, it is but proper that we bravely mend ourselves during this
Lenten season to become a new person with a new heart and spirit. Now is
the right time. Let us open a new page of self-renewal today as we
continue our journey, so that we will resurrect together with Him on
Easter.
-
-
May our Lent today and tomorrow set a shining record. Let
us have a sincere Lent. May God bless our Lenten season. Amen.
-
TELL US LIKE IT IS!
- Has something
wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did God answer your
prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like Isaiah, meet God’s
whisper?
- Have you felt
His powerful hand working in your life recently?
- Everyday,
people are experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a
pity that very few know about it. Do you have a story to tell? Some Good
News to share?
- E-mail us (genesis@catholic.org)
or fax us (021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You don’t
have to be a great writer to do this. We can help you write it – just
tell us like it is!
- Don’t forget
to write the subject: “Let Me Tell You A Story”
For comments, suggestions or
ideas:
Write us: Jl. Bacang No. 20 Kebayoran
Baru, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Call us: (6221) 720-3824
Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
Genesis Catholic
Community - All Rights Reserved 2003
No part of this website may
be copied, reproduced or modified without the permission from the
webmaster.
|
This Site has been
awarded
IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
The Father Speaks
By Fr. S. Binzler, SJ
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Reflection
By Fr. Agustinus Tupen Belo, PR
Community Life
By Tintin Magbitang
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautist
God Answers Prayers
By Beth Manibog
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
Saint for the Month
|
