PALM SUNDAY, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Matthew 21: 1-11; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66

Today, Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent. It commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. The passion narrative from the Gospel of Matthew invites us, once again, to participate step by step in the passion journey of Jesus Christ, which we began with our participation in the Stations of the Cross.

Almost all Jewish prophets prophesied the coming of the messiah who would redeem Israel from her oppressors. At the time of Jesus, Israel was governed by the Romans. Jesus’ disciples were convinced that Jesus was a political messiah who would lead a rebellion against the Roman colonial rule and drive out the Romans. Therefore, on arriving in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, he was given a rousing and heroic welcome: “The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest’” (Matthew 21:8-9).

John’s Gospel is specific about palm branches: “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!”’ (John 12:13). The name ‘Palm Sunday’ is based on John’s Gospel. In many cultures, waving of palm branches is an expression of victory. ‘Hosanna’ is an Aramaic word which means, “save us, we pray” or “please deliver us.” Unknowingly, the crowds proclaimed Jesus’ victory over death and him as the savior of the world. Like the crowds, we pray to Jesus to save us and deliver us from our afflictions.

Palm Sunday celebration is not only a re-enacting of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, but we are also re-enacting the vision of John in Revelation 7:9-10, “I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.’” Our celebration is our prayer that we will transcend from re-enacting to reality and from performance to become what we perform.

There are other meanings of palm leaves. In some cultures, in times of crisis or misunderstanding, carrying palm leaves or presenting palm leaves is a gesture of peace and reconciliation. Today, the Church gives us palm leaves as a symbol of peace and reconciliation to take to our homes and places. Let us share the message of peace and reconciliation with one another. You may take a palm leaf from this Mass to someone as a gesture of peace and reconciliation. Blessed palm leaves are not to be thrown around or discarded as trash. They are kept reverently until next year when they are returned to the church and burned and the ashes used during Ash Wednesday liturgy.

I do not think that the crowds would have cried to Jesus to save them if they knew that he was not a political messiah. A few days later, the crowds shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” It could be that the crowds were frustrated and disappointed that Jesus did not meet their expectation. If Jesus had overthrown the Roman leadership, the crowds would have stood behind him. He would not have been crucified. Are we the same? When our expectations are not met, how to we react? Do we enter crucifying mode?

As we read in the gospel, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a colt (a young donkey). Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem on a donkey, which was, at that time, the means of transportation for the poor; instead of a horse, which was the means of transportation for the rich, the high and the mighty. By riding a donkey, a beast of burden, Jesus made himself our ‘beast of burden’ thereby fulfilling Isaiah 53:54, “He took up our pain and bore our suffering.” Like the donkey, Jesus carries our pains and sufferings.

By riding a donkey, Jesus identified himself with the poor and the lowly, and he teaches us to do the same. He wants us to identify with the burdened, the needy, the sick, and the suffering. And by riding a donkey, Jesus teaches us the importance of detachment and humility. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart.”

Today’s celebration becomes even more meaningful if Jesus makes a triumphal entry into our lives, grant us peace, victory over evil, salvation, and eternal life. Let us not stop Jesus’ entry into our lives by our sins. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelations 3:20).

Lastly, St. Andrew of Crete writes, “Let us imitate those who have gone out to meet him, not scattering olive branches or garments or palms in his path, but spreading ourselves before him as best as we can with humility of soul and upright purpose … It is ourselves that we must spread under Christ’s feet…”

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 

 

Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130:1-8; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. How is your Lenten journey going? Have you fulfilled the Lenten obligations of Repentance (Confession), Almsgiving (works of charity), Fasting and Abstinence, and Prayer?

The first reading was Ezekiel’s prophecy to the people of Israel while they were in exile in Babylon. They had resigned to hopelessness that they would never be free and would never return to their homeland. Through Ezekiel, God gave hope to them. Ezekiel prophesied, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them… I will put my spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you upon your land…” Ezekiel prophesied spirit, life, and restoration in place of death and grave.

This prophecy was fulfilled in about 597 BC when King Cyrus of Persia released the people of Israel to return to their land. They did not fight for their freedom. An additional blessing they received was that they left Babylon with so much gold and silver (5,400 articles of gold and silver) to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Following the King’s decree, the Babylonians provided the Israelites with silver and gold, goods and livestock, and freewill offerings for the temple (Ezra 1:1-11). Although the Israelites never believed that there was hope for them to return to their homeland, but when it was God’s time, it came very fast and with unexpected blessings.

In the gospel, Lazarus was dead and was in the grave for four days. Jesus brought him back to life. It was a hopeless case before Jesus arrived. When Jesus was told that Lazarus was ill, he did not proceed immediately to visit Lazarus. It took him four days before he arrived. Jesus ordered that the stone be taken away and ordered Lazarus to come out. Lazarus came out with hand and foot tied with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. Jesus ordered, “Untie him and let him go.” Jesus is the one who commands “prisoners: come out” and “those in darkness: Show yourselves,” as prophesied in Isaiah 49:9. But we are the ones who obey or disobey.

After seventy years in captivity, the Israelites got their freedom. After four days in the grave, Lazarus came back to life. This means that, sometimes, challenging times can last for a long time. Since we do not know God’s divine will, we are encouraged to stand strong in faith and persevere in prayer. Jesus promises in Matthew 24:13, “The one who perseveres to the end will be saved.”

The Israelites never believed that they would return to their homeland. Nobody could have imagined that Lazarus would live again having been buried for four days. “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:6). God promises, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them … I have promised and, I will do it” (Ezekiel 37:14). “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

In the gospel of last Sunday, Jesus was asked, ‘“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him’” (John 9:3). Today, we read, ‘“Master, the one you love is ill.’ When Jesus heard this, he said, ‘This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the son of God may be glorified through it’” (John 11:4). We pray that the works of God be made visible and God be glorified through our unpleasant situations. St. Paul writes, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Jesus says to us what he said to Martha, “Did I not tell that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”

The Israelites were under the yoke of slavery in Babylon. We may have our yokes enslaving us. May God free us from our yokes. Lazarus was dead and, in the grave, covered by a stone. He was bound hand and foot, and his face wrapped in a cloth. We may be feeling like being in the grave. We may be feeling like we are weighed down by a large stone. We may be feeling like tied by hand and foot. We may be feeling like our face is wrapped in a cloth. May Jesus weep over our situations as he wept over Lazarus’ death, and free us from our affliction as he freed Lazarus from death. We express our faith in Jesus as Martha did, “But even now [we] know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”

We pray with St. Paul (in the second reading): May the Spirit of the One who raised Christ from the dead give life to our mortal bodies. May the Spirit of the One who raised Christ from the dead break our yokes, remove the stones weighing upon us, raise us up from our graves, untie our bands, and set us free. Amen.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13; Psalm 23:1-6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called ‘Laetare’ Sunday, meaning Sunday of Joy. ‘Laetare’ (Latin) means ‘rejoice.’ It comes from the first word of today’s Mass entrance antiphon, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast” (Isaiah 66:10-11). In the past, the Lenten season used to be very austere. The Fourth Sunday of Lent, being a mid-way of the Lenten season, used to be a day to relax austere fasting. ‘Laetare’ Sunday foreshadows the hope and joy that await us at Easter. It is also known as “Rose Sunday” because rose-colored vestments are traditionally worn.

In the first reading, Samuel did not know who God was going to choose to replace Saul as the king of Israel. God guided him until he anointed David. “Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.’ but the Lord said to Samuel: ‘Do not judge from appearance or from lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.’” Samuel would have made a wrong choice if he had not followed God’s guidance.  The first reading has a few lessons for us.

 (1) Appearance can be deceptive. Therefore, we must not make judgements and conclusions, hastily, based on appearance, initial impressions, and thoughts. Sometimes, there is more than meets the eye. Sometimes, what is on the surface is only the tip of the iceberg. We hear it often said, “All that glitters is not gold.”  Discernment and prayer are important before decisions are made. It is important to listen attentively to God and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

(2) Samuel did not depend on what was presented to him. He made inquiry: ‘“Are these all the sons you have?’ Jesse replied, ‘There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.’ Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he arrives here.”’ We must not be afraid or reluctant to ask valid questions which may help to a better understanding of the matter or help to unravel the truth. My dad, God rest his soul, used to tell me, "Son, do not call a mirage a river.”

(3) Someone says, “Do not be discouraged. It is often the last key in the bunch that unlocks the lock.” David was the last key in the bunch. If you try and fail, try, try, try again!

(4) Jesse never imagined that the youngest of his sons could be considered for such an exulted position. Let us not underestimate what God can do in and through us or what God can do in and through someone else.

(5) God knows the heart of each one of us. We can deceive our fellow human beings, but we cannot deceive God. The Lord said to Samuel, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

We pray for those who, by the nature of their calling or responsibility, must make judgements on others that they may be open to the wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We pray, too, for all of us that we may seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit in our choices and judgements.

In the gospel, the physically blind man who was healed by Jesus, recognized Jesus as a prophet and worshipped him. Meanwhile, the spiritually blind Jews refused to see God’s wonderful work in Jesus and did not recognize that Jesus came from God.

The Jews ridiculed the man who was healed by Jesus and “threw him out” of the synagogue because he continued to insist that Jesus came from God. He was expelled from the synagogue because he rejected falsehood and insisted on the truth. How often does this happen among us, that people who insist on the truth are ridiculed, suppressed, or even eliminated?

Spiritual blindness is an impairment of the mind that causes a person to lose sight of right judgement and truth. We are spiritually blind when we do not recognize God’s presence and his wonderful work. We are spiritually blind when we do not recognize God’s goodness in others and in ourselves. We are spiritually blind when we do not recognize the hurts and damage we cause to others and to ourselves.

In one way or another, all of us have some degree of spiritual blindness. St. Paul encourages us in the second reading to “take no part in the fruitless works of darkness” but to receive the light of Christ. St. Paul writes, “Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

We pray that as the blind man in the gospel received his healing, our rulers and leaders whose blindness brings so much suffering in our society and in our world be healed of their blindness. Samuel was blind as to who to anoint the king of Isreal until God guided him. May we receive God’s guidance to see the paths forward even where there is dead-end. May the testimonies of God’s guidance and healing glorify his Holy Name. Amen.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42

In the first reading, the Israelites thirsted for water as they journeyed in the desert. In their difficulty, they did not cry to God. Rather, they grumbled against Moses.

Sometimes, our life’s journey run out of ‘water’ as it was for the Israelites in the desert. Do we behave like the Israelites, grumble against one another, blame one another, and fight one another; instead of coming together, reasoning together, and working together? Do we pray together for God’s intervention, guidance, and direction? When the people grumbled, nothing happened. But when Moses cried to God in prayer, something happened. This event teaches us the power of prayer.

God directed Moses to strike the rock with the miracle staff in his hand. He did, and water flowed from the rock for the people.  The solution was in Moses’ hand, but he did not know it. The solution to our problem may be right before us. We need to always pray for God’s divine guidance and direction.

Many times, God brings solutions through unexpected and unlikely means. May be, the expectation of the people was a rain fall or finding a cistern anywhere nearby for them to have some water.  Rather, God made water flow from rock. Our God is a God of surprises.

St. Paul encourages us in the second reading that our hope in God does not disappoint; in that God pours out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Such outpouring is empowering and uplifting amid every difficult situation where the Holy Spirit is welcome. With such outpouring, we are never consumed by the hard times. With such outpouring, we look up to our faithful God rather than grumble. Such out pouring binds hearts together.

In the gospel, during Jesus’ time, most Jews, who traveled between Judea and Galilee, would take a longer route which bypassed Samaria to avoid the people there, “For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.” But Jesus, intentionally, went through Samaria on his way to Galilee to show that he came for the Jews and also the Gentiles. St. Paul writes, “For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity” (Ephesians 2:14).

Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down at the Jacob’s well, resting and waiting for his apostles who went to the town to buy food. Then, the Samaritan woman came to draw water. The woman was wounded in many ways. She had had five husbands and was at that moment cohabiting with a man. We do not know her past life with the five men, but we can conclude that it was not a pleasant one. One man is tough enough; how much more are five husbands and cohabiting with a man. That is six men. The Samaritan woman was very resilient!

From all indications, she was bearing the wounds of frustration, disappointment, isolation, and humiliation. She came to draw water alone, at noon, at an hour when she would meet nobody. Usually, water was fetched in the morning and in the evening, hardly in the middle of the day. It was also strange, at that time, for a woman to go anywhere all alone, not in a company of other women. Although the woman came to draw water, but Jesus saw that she needed healing and salvation much more than ordinary water.

The Samaritan woman was healed, liberated, and transformed. Her deliverance had immediate effect. She was filled with the joy of salvation. She became a witness and an evangelizer. She left her jar, meaning that ordinary water was not what she needed. She hurried into the town and testified her experience to her people. Many followed her to see Jesus and began to believe in him. At their invitation, Jesus stayed two days with them preaching to them. Jesus stayed with the Samaritans who were avoided by the Jews. The Samaritans said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”  

There are many people who are dried up like the Israelites in the desert or wounded like the Samaritan woman or discriminated against like the Samaritans. We are spiritually in union with them in our prayers as we celebrate this Eucharist. May we and those we are praying for encounter Jesus, the giver of the living water which wells up to eternal life, so that as Isaiah says, “With joy [we] will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). As water flowed from the rock in the desert, may God’s graces flow from this sanctuary (our spiritual rock) as we celebrate this Eucharist.

Isaiah 55:1 invites us, “All you who are thirsty, come to the waters ... without money and without cost.” As we have come Mass, may he satisfy our thirst and fill our hunger with good things (Psalm 107:9). Psalm 34:18-21 assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all. He watches over all their bones; not one of them shall be broken.” Psalm 147: 3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds.” May he pour out his unfailing love upon us [through the Holy Spirit] as we place all our hope in him (Psalm 33:22). Amen.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9

Last Sunday’s first reading was about the sin of disobedience of Adam and Eve which caused their expulsion the Garden of Eden. Genesis Chapter 11 is the story of the sin of rebellion of the builders of the Tower of Babel. God scattered the builders over all the earth. After Noah, there was no record in the Book of Genesis of true worshippers of God.

God called Abram to begin a new phase of God’s relationship with human beings, which also marks the beginning of the story of God’s Chosen People. Abram was not a worshipper of God before God called him. Abram and his people who were descendants of Noah were worshippers of Mesopotamian gods. God called Abram to leave his religion, his “kinsfolks, and his father’s house” to where he, God, would reveal himself to him, and make him a great nation. The first reading concludes, “Abram went as the Lord directed him.”

Following Abram response, God began a new relationship with human beings. God is calling us out from our sins of disobedience, our rebellion, and our ‘worship of other gods.’ If we respond to him as Abram did, God will reveal himself in a new way to us. We pray for grace and courage to respond like Abram.

The call of Abram was special. Out of the entire people of Ur of the Chaldeans, God called only one man, Abram, to establish a new relationship and to a great nation. God may be calling anyone of us to something new, to something different, to something great. May we be able to respond positively like Abram and go as God directs.

Abram was 75 years when God called him to begin a new journey and a new life. The call of Abram means that it is never too late to bloom. It is never too late to leave the past sinful and ugly experiences behind and begin a new relationship with God. Let us be patient with ourselves. Let us be patient with late bloomers.

The second reading says, “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus…” Psalm 130:3-4 says, “If you, Lord, keep account of sins, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness.” St. Paul says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Abram did not deserve to be called, yet God called him, according to God’s own design. None of us deserves to be called. But God loves us first (1 John 4:19). We respond positively or negatively to God’s love. The Lenten season is God calling us to a new relationship. Is there anything God is calling us “to go forth from” (leave behind) for this new relationship to take place?

In the gospel, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and transfigured before them; “his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” Jesus took them to witness his transfiguration so that they could tell others what they witnessed. It is because the three apostles witnessed the transfiguration that the story of what they witnessed is told till this day.

To transfigure means to transform the appearance of something in order to reveal great beauty or magnificence that is present but hidden. Jesus’ glorious nature which was hidden from the apostles was revealed at his transfiguration.

God made each of us with great beauty and magnificence. In Genesis 1:31, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” We are part of that beauty.  Psalm 139:13-14 confirms that each one of us is wonderfully and beautifully made. Sadly, layers of sins, weaknesses, and ugly experiences hide our wonder and beauty. Therefore, we are invited to transfigure in order that our original beauty and wonder may be revealed. The call to transfigure is a call to conversion and restoration. God tells us in the gospel to listen to Jesus, his beloved Son, if we want to transfigure. Psalm 95:8 calls on us, “Oh, that today you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

God revealed himself in a new way to Abram. Jesus revealed himself in a new way to Peter, James, and John. God wants to reveal himself in a new way to us. Many times, the cost of discipleship, that is the sacrifice, or the selfishness or self-interest, or the mission God is calling us frightens us as the apostles were frightened. Jesus encourages us today, “Rise and do not be afraid.”

There are some other layers that hide our beauty and magnificence, and we pray that God intervenes and removes them: layers of ill-health, of hardship, of trials, of crises, and other afflictions. We need transfiguration in our places of work, places of business, plans, family, parish, Church, and so on. Our Country needs transfiguration. Our political and economic leaders need transfiguration. Our world needs transfiguration. May our hidden beauty and magnificence be revealed and restored. Amen.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Psalm 51:3-6, 12-13, 17; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

The first reading is the story of the temptation and the fall of Adam and Eve. The gospel reading is about the temptation of Jesus and his triumph over Satan. If Satan tempted Adam and Eve, who lacked nothing, how much more will he tempt you and I who are daily in need? If Satan had the courage to tempt Jesus, who is God, who then, are we, mortal human beings, to escape Satan’s temptations?

Someone says, “To be human is to be tempted.” St. Ignatius calls Satan “the enemy of our human nature.” We all will continue to encounter temptations until our last breath. Satan acknowledged in Job 1:7 that he/she is always “Roaming the earth and patrolling it.” That is why the Scripture instructs us, “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9). In today’s Divine Office reading, St. Augustine writes, “Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial, or receives a crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations.”

Today, we are presented with the way Adam and Eve handled their temptation and the way Jesus handled his temptations. The two ways can help us understand Satan’s deceits and be prepared.

First, the temptations teach us to listen to God’s voice and obey him and not Satan. The eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil symbolizes disobedience to God’s command by choosing to listen to Satan. Jesus remained obedient to God throughout his temptations.

Second, the temptations teach us to be oneself. Doing things to impress others land people into trouble. Two times Satan asked Jesus, “If you are the Son of God …” Prove it! Demonstrate it! Show your power! “Command that these stones to become loaves of bread.” “Throw yourself down from the parapet of the temple.” Jesus dismissed Satan. Adam and Eve did not dismiss Satan.

Third, the temptations teach us the dangers of inordinate desire of anything. In the case of Adam and Eve, they were no longer content as human beings. Their greed and desire for power and wisdom like gods led to their downfall. Greed goes before fall.

As for Jesus, he was content and in control. He was not swayed by “all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,” Satan showed him. Greed or desire for possession did not gain upper hand of him as was the case with Adam and Eve. In Luke 12:15, Jesus warns us, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possession.”

Fourth, the temptations teach us that Satan watches out for our moments of weakness and where we are vulnerable. The temptation of Adam and Eve were in their moments of weakness. Could it be that Satan came to Eve in her moment of weakness of loneliness? There was no word from Adam in the conversation. Was Adam absent and came back hungry and ate the fruit? Later, when God questioned him, he did not claim ignorance of what he ate. He only blamed Eve, “The woman whom you put here with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate it” (Genesis 3:12). In the case of Jesus, the Scripture states clearly that Jesus was “very hungry.” So, turning stones into bread would have been a reasonable thing to do to have some bread to eat.

Fifth, the temptations teach us not to give Satan opportunities. Eve gave Satan an opportunity by allowing a rapport with him. The conversation between Satan and Eve shows the rapport which Satan capitalized on. Jesus did not give the devil an opportunity. Jesus was resistant and dismissive of him with God’s words. “One does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3). “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test” (Deuteronomy 6:16). Finally, “Get away, Satan.” … “The Lord, your God, you shall worship and him alone shall you serve” (Deuteronomy 6:13).

St. Paul warns us, “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). “Do not give the devil any opportunity to work” (Ephesians 4:27). We are encouraged to avoid people and occasions of sin. St. James says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). 

Let us follow Jesus as we journey through the Lenten season and through our lives’ journeys. Hebrews 2:18 encourages us, “Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us, “God is faithful, and he will not let us be tempted beyond our ability, but with the temptation he will provide the way of escape, that we may be able to endure it.” Amen.

ASH WEDNESDAY YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten season, which is 46 days before Easter. However, Lent is 40 days since six Sundays in the Lenten season are not counted as fast days. Each Sunday is a feast day, a mini remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection.

The word “Lent” comes from an Old English word “Lencten,” referring to the lengthening of daylight during the spring season. After days of short daylight and long nights of the winter season, the spring season brings days of long daylight and short night.

The 40 days of Lent represent the 40 years the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land, the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments, and the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before his ministry. On our part, our journey, our Mount Sanai, and our desert are REPENTANCE, PRAYER, FASTING, and ALMSGIVING.

REPENTANCE: The first reading invites us, “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. … Gather the people, notify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants … Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. … Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep, and say, ‘Spare, O Lord, your people … ”’ (Joel 2:12-18).

The Psalm of our Mass, Psalm 51, is the prayer of repentance of King David after coveting Uriah’s wife and killing Uriah. God forgave him, and later, God brought out a blessing from David’s sin. David’s son, Solomon, whose mother was Bathsheba, the wife of the murdered man, succeeded David as the king of Isreal. St. Teresa of Avila says, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” The story of David’s repentance and God’s forgiveness should be an encouraging story for anyone reeling in pains of the guilt of past of sins or past mistakes or past choices.

St. Paul appeals to us in the second reading, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). This reminds us of last Sunday’s gospel reading, “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). During this Lenten season, we are invited to the Sacrament of reconciliation and interpersonal reconciliation.

THE ASH RITUAL: The ash ritual is why the day is called Ash Wednesday. Ash as a sign of contrition, repentance, and mourning goes back to the Old Testament. Job prayed, “I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6). The king of Nineveh left his throne, “laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes” (Jonah 3:5-6). In some ancient African traditions, sitting on ash by widows was a mourning ritual.

The priest or his assistant marks ash on us and says, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel,” reminding us of Jesus’ first words when he began his ministry: “This is a time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15). Or, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19), reminding us of a reality which we often forget.

PRAYER: Lenten season is a time to revive our prayer life, by participating in parish’s Lenten spiritual activities like retreats, recollections, and services; and renewal of personal prayer life.  “… his disciples asked him in private, ‘Why could we not drive [the demon] out?’ He said to them, ‘This kind can only come out through prayer’” (Mark 9:29).

FASTING: We abstain from meat and food that contains meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as act of penance (self-denial) and reverence to Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Lenten fasting is an act of penance (self-denial) and sacrifice. Fasting is not only from food and depriving ourselves of necessities, but it also includes, as Pope Francis advises, from sins and attitudes. The Pope says,  

• Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

• Fast from worries and have trust in God.

• Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

• Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

• Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.

• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

• Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

ALMSGIVING: Lenten observance must include works of charity especially sharing what we have with the needy. “Prayer with fasting is good. Almsgiving with righteousness is better than wealth with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold, for almsgiving saves from death, and purges all sin” (Tobit 12:8-10).

We read in the Divine Office of Tuesday, Third Week of Lent, “There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.” In order words, prayer knocks at the door, fasting opens the door, mercy receives!

We pray for a Spirit-filled and a fruitful Lenten season. Amen.