14 Feb 24 – Why Do We Do These Forty Days?

Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 – Jesus said to His disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Ash Wednesday – Fast and Abstinence

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2, 3) What is Lent? Why do we get ashes? What is penance? Why do we do this for 40 days?

4) Catechizing my father: It’s easy to believe that you can’t change another’s mind or cause them to begin a new way of life through one conversation. It’s especially easy to believe that of elderly people, who have been firmly rooted in their ideas, values, and lifestyle for so long. Robert Marco describes a conversation in which he catechized his religiously ambiguous 73-year-old dad on a day they were visiting, and ended up at Adoration with him the next day
https://catholicexchange.com/catechizing-my-father/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:05 — 32.2MB)