STRIP AND BECOME NAKED

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18

Second Reading: 2 Cor 5:20--6:2

Gospel: Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

The most precious time in the year is the season of Lent. We are beginning this holy season with ashes on our forehead. The ash in our forehead reminds us of our immortality and tells others that we believe in the life after. The Gospel of the day suggest us to do three things during this holy season: Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting. When our Lord exhorts us to observe these three things, He places one condition: to do them with true spirit. The key word in today’s Gospel is; hypocrisy. The Lord our God is pleased with our efforts to feel sorry for our sins and the penances we undertake. At the same time He looks for sincerity in our efforts. He looks for integrity in our lives. Isaiah 58:6-7 points out the true spirit of fasting; “the fast that I [God] choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?” This type of fasting is what God wants. It bears much fruit and gives meaning to our penances. Contrarily fast done without giving up our own pursuits, quarrelling and fighting (Is 58: 3-4) diminishes the true spirit of penance. This is an abomination in the eyes of God. Proverb 6:16-19 should be a watch dog for our penances in this season of Lent. For it says; “the Lord hates,… haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that are quick to run to evil, the false witness who utters lies, and the one who sows discord among kindred.” (Pro 6:16-19). Let us renounce these seven things in this holy season.

Hypocrisy incurs Lords wrath, because it is duplicity, pretence and insincerity. The main opposition of Jesus to the Jewish leadership of His time was the sin of hypocrisy. This is why in recommending to do three things, the Lord warns us of having any hypocritical motive behind. A fast that seeks the attention of others, a prayer that showcases for others to watch and almsgiving done to get praise are hypocrisy. The season of Lent is a time to look at oneself in a mirror behind closed doors. In the present world, interior designs of rooms have closets with large mirrors or restrooms with wide stretch mirrors. The purpose of these large mirrors are to help one to view him/herself fully. In that large mirror one sees him/herself fully in a single view. The season of lent is to stand in front of the mirror of the Word of God which will expose us fully. It will show us who we are. Just as the mirror in the closets help us to decorate us to present how we want to be in front of others, the Word of God in our hand daily could help us to decorate us with what God wants us to be. We stand naked in front of the mirror to view ourselves. Similarly, let our soul be naked in front of the Word of God. Let the Word of God plunge into our hearts to show us who we are, where do we really stand, what is our true self. If we ourselves can view our whole body, we don’t require a mirror. Since we can’t view our whole self fully we need a mirror, sometimes we need rear mirrors as well. Only the Word of God can help us to view the full nature of ourselves. Let us strip off all that bars us from becoming naked in front of God and His Word. The Lord became naked on the cross so that we could be clothed in holiness. On the cross we see Him physically naked. But we fail to notice that His whole life on earth was naked in front of the people; He had no pretence. This holy season is also an opportunity to lead a life of integrity. We need to be truthful. Our lives should be naked to others without any pretence. The most disgusting lies in this present world is; acknowledging of one’s sin and wrongdoings in front of others is like losing one’s dignity. And so, it is not necessary to accept one’s limitation in front of other. On the contrary, when we confess our limitations and acknowledge our sins in front of others without any pretence, the power of devil is destroyed. All wearing mask is the problem for persons to reach out and be reached out. The conversion of sinners and life of integrity attracts many. But are we willing to be that one?

May this season help us to be truthful to God and with others. The thought of becoming truthful is scary. But the life driven by truth, without pretence is the happiest as there can be no fear of hiding something. As the ash in our forehead reveals the true nature of our humanity, let our lives reveal the true purpose of God in creation. Naked we came and naked we shall return (Job 1:21), why hide our nakedness with something else? Why pretence? Why become a hypocrite? Let us strip our falsehood and become naked to discover our true self.