Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday
(Fast & Abstinence)

"Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicly, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven. So, when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you"

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you"

"When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that God will hear them because their prayers are long. Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask Him. This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven
may Your holy name be honored
may Your Kingdom come
may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us today the food we need
Forgive us the wrongs we have done
as we forgive the wrongs
that others have done to us
Do not bring us to hard testing
but keep us safe from the evil one

"If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done"

"And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, so that others cannot know that you are fasting - only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you" (Matthew 6:1-18)

I attended morning Mass today at Sacred Heart Church Inobong. Rev. Fr. Julius Sading celebrated the Mass.

To those of you who have missed the Mass this morning, you can go to St. Michael's Church Penampang or Holy Nativity Terawi at 7.30pm.

ps. Happy Birthday to darling hubby ~~~