Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

The liturgies of the Thursday and Friday after Ash Wednesday give us important lessons to remember as we go through the penitential season.

   Thursday, we see that by prayer Ezechias obtained a longer life (Epistle: Isaias 38.1-6). "....I beseech Thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before Thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight...." God heard his prayer and, besides granting him 15 more years of life, delivered the city out of the hands of the Assyrians.

   In the beginning prayer, the Introit, we hear the words of Psalm 54: 17, 19, 20, 23. When I cried to the Lord, He heard my voice from those that draw near to me.......Hear, O God, my prayer and despise not my supplication...."

   The Gospel is Matthew 8.5-13.  In it we see that faith works miracles and heals our souls from the paralysis of sin. It is the story of the centurion who had such faith and humility that he said to Christ, "Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof. Speak but the word and my servant shall be healed."  We repeat much of the words of the centurion before Holy Communion. "Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof. Speak but the word and my soul shall be healed."

On Friday, Epistle and Gospel both declare that the external works of penance, such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which we are encouraged to practice during Lent, have no value in God's sight unless accompanied by the spirit of internal sacrifice. We can demonstrate this by works of mercy towards our neighbor, friend or enemy, with the intention of pleasing God.

   The Epistle is from Isaias 58.1-9. "........Do not fast as you have done until this day, to make your cry to be heard on high.....Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harborless into thy house....Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall hear......."

   Matthew's Gospel, 5.43-48, and 6.1-4, is read in the liturgy. We should love our neighbor from the bottom of our heart. St. Jerome says, "There is hypocrisy in doing anything so as to be praised by men; it is not the appearance of virtue but the underlying motive that will receive reward from God."  In part the Gospel says, quoting Our Lord, " Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect. Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have reward of your Father who is in heaven.......And when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father, who seth in secret, will repay thee.

The importance of prayer in our lives is not a small thing, and while we are exhorted to pray much during Lent, it should be the first thing after our waking and the last before sleeping.

St. Alphonsus de Liguori, who began as a lawyer, later became a priest, then bishop, lived a long and productive life (died at age 91 in 1787). He wrote over sixty books and many other spiritual writings.  He says of prayer: "To pray, it is not necessary always to be on bended knee, or in Church, or even in some quiet corner at home, though it is advisable when possible to adopt a reverent attitude in some place where you are not exposed to distractions. You can pray while at work, you can pray while walking the street in any place, under all circumstances, by raising you mind to God, and thinking of the Passion of Christ, or any other pious subject."   What he says is an expression of the Practice of the Presence of God. The important thing is to pray.