Greeting

The peace and reconciliation
of the merciful Father
be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

In many regions of the world people celebrate carnival in the days before Lent with much noise and merrymaking. Often they wear masks for the occasion. But today Lent begins, the time to put off our masks and to turn our face and heart to God and to people. In this holy season we reflect on the true meaning of our lives. Who am I and what am I living for? Am I living for God and the community? We shall be invited to receive ashes on our foreheads with the invitation, "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." Away, then, with all masks and return to God, to your true self and to one another as God's people.

Note. The penitential rite is omitted, since the rite of the ashes is a rite of penance and conversion.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray that this Lent
we may become more faithful to the gospel
            (Pause)
God of life and Father of mercy,
you want all your sons and daughters to be free
and to live as your holy people.
In this time of Lent we pray you:
set us free from the shackles
of our selfish concerns for honor and power,
possessions and pleasure.

Make us live the life of your Son
in the service of people.
In honor of you, our living God.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: Come Back to Me With All Your Heart!
            True fasting and penance mean a sincere change of heart: turning away from evil to turn towards the loving God.

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18

Yahweh says, "Yet even now, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rend your heart, not your garment. Return to Yahweh, your God - gracious and compassionate."

Yahweh is slow to anger, full of kindness, and he repents of having punished.
Who knows? Probably he will relent once more and spare some part of the harvest from which we may bring sacred offerings to Yahweh, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion, proclaim a sacred fast, call a solemn assembly.

Gather the people, sanctify the community, bring together the elders, even the children and infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his bed, and the bride her room.

Between the vestibule and the altar, let the priests, Yahweh's ministers, weep and say: Spare your people, Yahweh. Do not humble them or make them an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples: Where is their God?

Yahweh has become jealous for his land; he has had pity on his people.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17

R (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R./ Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
R./ Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R./ Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R./ Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Second Reading Introduction: Now Is the Favorable Time
            Jesus has restored us in the friendship of God. But this demands that we continue seeking God's reconciliation today. Now is the right time to do this.

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

So we present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of Christ, as if God himself makes an appeal to you through us. Let God reconcile you; this we ask you in the name of Christ. He had no sin, but God made him bear our sin, so that in him we might share the holiness of God.

Being God's helpers we beg you: let it not be in vain that you received this grace of God. Scripture says: At the favorable time I listened to you, on the day of salvation I helped you. This is the favorable time, this is the day of salvation.

Gospel Introduction: Your Father Will Reward You
            Outward practices of penance have no value unless our interior attitude corresponds to our outward practice of helping our neighbor, praying and doing penance.

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

Jesus said to his disciples, “Be careful not to make a show of your righteousness before people. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven. When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be seen in the synagogues and in the streets in order to be praised by the people. I assure you, they have been already paid in full.

“If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

“When you pray, do not be like those who want to be seen. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you.

“When you fast, do not put on a miserable face as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face, so people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father who sees beyond appearances. And your Father, who sees what is kept secret will reward you.”