The “serious” season of Lent which begins today—Ash Wednesday— ushers us to the reality of our brokenness. The ashes that are imposed on our forehead remind us: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gn 3:19). This is the judgment that comes with the fall of Adam and Eve.

God does not give up on us, his people. Through the prophets, he calls out: “Return to me and live!” In response, we turn to the Lord with fasting, mourning, prayer, and acts of kindness. Fasting involves the ascetical exercises such as renunciation of pleasure, or self-mortification that purges us from cravings of bodily needs, while opening our desires for spiritual values. Prayer allows us to be constantly linked to God, who is the source of life; through prayer, we are assured of God’s presence amidst the uncertainties, challenges, and sufferings of life. Almsgiving makes us aware that we owe our life to God; hence, by sharing our blessings to others, we acknowledge God’s gratuitousness to us.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that these religious acts are not for a show, but must spring from the heart, from genuine religious aspirations.

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.”