First reading Isaiah 58:1-9
The sort of fast that pleases me
Thus says the Lord:
Shout for all you are worth,
raise your voice like a trumpet.
Proclaim their faults to my people,
their sins to the House of Jacob.
They seek me day after day,
they long to know my ways,
like a nation that wants to act with integrity
and not ignore the law of its God.
They ask me for laws that are just,
they long for God to draw near:
‘Why should we fast if you never see it,
why do penance if you never notice?’
Look, you do business on your fast-days,
you oppress all your workmen;
look, you quarrel and squabble when you fast
and strike the poor man with your fist.
Fasting like yours today
will never make your voice heard on high.
Is that the sort of fast that pleases me,
a truly penitential day for men?
Hanging your head like a reed,
lying down on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call fasting,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me
– it is the Lord who speaks –
to break unjust fetters and
undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and break every yoke,
to share your bread with the hungry,
and shelter the homeless poor,
to clothe the man you see to be naked
and not turn from your own kin?
Then will your light shine like the dawn
and your wound be quickly healed over.
Your integrity will go before you
and the glory of the Lord behind you.
Cry, and the Lord will answer;
call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’
Responsorial Psalm 50(51):3-6,18-19
A humbled, contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
Gospel Matthew 9:14-15
When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast
John’s disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.’
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19th February 2021 Friday After Ash Wednesday.
Reflection
Isaiah 58:1-9, Matthew 9: 14-15
Reflection
Isaiah 58:1-9, Matthew 9: 14-15
“Fasting leads us always to love God and others”
What is the point of fasting? Many of us do fasting because it is a way to lose weight after all the many feastings, or we do so because it is an obligation that we need to fulfill. Today, Jesus, the Risen Christ, refers to Himself as the bridegroom who continues to be with His people. Thus, now when we fast, we fast with joy, not sadness. We fast with joy from TV, food, shopping, or Facebook because we desire to make space for Christ to be more in our lives.
When Jesus the bridegroom is in our lives, He will always lead us towards loving and serving others. In the 1st reading, the Prophet Isaiah said,” to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless people…’ This is the fasting that God wants. Our fasting must lead us always to more love: Love Christ and love others. This is the point of our fasting!
Question for reflection:
Does my fasting lead me to more love?
19 hb Februari 2021 Hari Jumaat sesudah Rabu Abu.
Renungan
Yesaya 58:1-9, Matius 9: 14-15
“Berpuasa sentiasa memimpin kita untuk mengasihi Tuhan dan sesame”
Apa gunanya berpuasa? Ramai di antara kita berpuasa kerana ingin menurunkan berat badan setelah menghadiri banyak perayaan, atau kita melakukannya kerana ia merupakan kewajipan yang perlu kita penuhi. Hari ini, Yesus, Kristus yang Bangkit merujuk Dirinya sebagai pengantin yang terus bersama umat-Nya. Oleh itu, ketika kita berpuasa, kita berpuasa dengan sukacita, bukannya bersedih. Kita berpuasa dari sukacita kerana Tv, makanan, membeli belah atau Facebook kerana kita ingin memberi ruang kepada Kristus untuk tinggal dalam hidup kita.
Ketika Yesus, mempelai ada dalam hidup kita, Dia sentiasa memimpin kita untuk mengasihi dan melayani orang lain. Dalam pembacaan pertama, Nabi Yesaya mengatakan, “membebaskan orang yang ditindas dan melepaskan kuk, mengongsikan roti kepada mereka yang lapar dan melindungi orang-orang yang kehilangan tempat tinggal…” Inilah puasa yang dikehendaki Tuhan. Puasa kita harus membawa kita untuk lebih mengasihi: Mengasihi Kristus dan sesama. Inilah gunanya puasa yang kita lakukan!
Soalan renungan:
Adakah puasa yang saya lakukan membawa saya untuk lebih mencintai?
18 Februari 2021, Orou Kaapat kaampusan ru Rabu Abu
Sagulion 30:15-20; Lukas 9:22-25
Mampili’ ra kaayagan, maya’ ri Jisus!
“Osoi masaga’ maya’ Raki’ no, lilianin no katasuan ru kaayagan nano galama’. Moonong orou mansaan io ra salip nano galama’ am maya’ Raki’.” Lilianin katasuan ru kaayagan galama’ iono kalo kaatangon inan galama’ ondo’ kalo makimasi’ ra kasuangan itakau ra bambal takau manalingapu ra kasagaan ru guang takau galama’. Kabalu’ pana raginio, amun ru totopot masaga’ takau maya’ ri Jisus, gogot takau labusin paliso-paliso ondo’ kalo maaya’ ra ralan ri Jisus kaopam lilianin katasuan ru kaayagan galama’ ondo’ mambaal ritakau maayag ra mamanggo am mampakaatang ra inan galama’ am bokon-bokon poyo. Labusin takau maa’ raginio itakau mokoowot am maansukan ralalom kaayagan ondo’ mototop ondo’ masaga’ pataakon ri Jisus ritakau. Ralalom pambasaan kasaa’, piau ra ‘mampili’ ra kaayagan’ iono pangkimaitan ri Aki Kapuuno’ paat ra itakau tumalimpuun Mampali ti.
Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
Atan kia gogoton kuti labusin maa’ raginio mabuli aku tumalimpuun koson mampili’ am mokoowot ra kaayagan ra orou raiti’?
19-02-2021 Hari Lima udah Tiga Abu
Renungan
Isaiah 58:1-9; Matthew 9:14-15
“Bepasa ngiring kitai awak meruan rindu ka Allah Taala enggau orang bukai.”
Nama tuju bepasa? Mayuh kitai bepasa laban deka ngurang ka pemerat tubuh sepengudah makai bebendar tauka kitai bepasa laban deka ngisi ukum aja. Saritu, Jesus, Kristus ti udah angkat Idup baru ti nyemak ka Diri Iya baka Pengantin Lelaki ti begulai enggau anembiak Iya. Nya kebuah, lebuh kitai bepasa diatu, kitai bepasa enggau pengelantang ati, ukai penyinu. Kitai bepasa enggau lantang ati ari meda TV, meli pemakai, meli barang utai tauka bekena ka media rama baka Facebook laban kitai ingin meri ruang ka Kristus ba genap bengkah palan pengawa pengidup kitai.
Lebuh Jesus ti Pengantin Lelaki diau dalam pengidup kitai, Iya meruan ngiring kitai awak rindu sereta ngintu orang bukai. Ba Bacha keterubah Nabi Isaiah bejako “muai rantai ti nekanka pengidup orang, muka tali tangkun ti merinsaka sida, ngelepaska orang ke kena perinsa, lalu matahka semua kungkung; magi pemakai kita enggau orang ke lapar; ngelaluka orang ke seranta, ke nadai endur alai diau ke dalam rumah kita…” Tu meh bepasa ti dideka Allah Taala. Pengawa bepasa patut mai kitai rindu enggau dalam agi: Rindu ka Kristus,Rindu ka orang bukai. Tu meh tuju kitai bepasa.
Kati pengawa bepasa aku mai aku rindu enggau dalam agi?
