Father Rick’s Three-Minute Homily for Ash Wednesday

March 5, 2025, Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030525.cfm

This Lent, Set Your Standard High – 40 Days To Greatness!

Competition is a part of life. We play games around the kitchen table, and we watch our children compete in sports growing up. We try our best to climb the job ladder for better pay with more responsibility. So it’s no wonder the scribes and Pharisees did their darndest to be better than the common folk.  

In the gospel for Ash Wednesday, Jesus tells us not to compare ourselves to others. He calls us to a higher standard. Our potential for greatness (holiness) is much greater; Jesus is our standard, and He welcomes us to be like Him. We don’t compete with others. We follow Jesus.  

He mentions three things that help us to be like Him: Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. If we think of doing this with the attitude, “Oh, I have to do this, but I don’t want to,” you got it. Our standard is too low, and we will give up in no time. Has that ever happened? Remember those New Year’s resolutions.  

See what happens when we pray, help people, and fast with this motivation: “Lord, I know I have a spark of greatness to be like You. Unfortunately, I can’t muster enough effort to get over the hump. I want to in my heart, but it is so easy to give up. I need a push, like trying to get up a hill. Get behind me, Lord, and inspire me, motivate me. 

And here is His push.

The three aids He mentioned in the gospel: 

· Giving more alms than I usually give to people experiencing poverty. 

· Giving you more attention in my day. 

· Giving up that snack or favorite food or activity. 

Pray with me: “Lord Jesus, it doesn’t seem like much when I do it with you. Ah, that’s when I reach my potential to be the best friend I can be to you—forty days for You to be my best, not a bad deal.  

Gospel Challenge: 

“So, Lord Jesus, what will I do this Lent?” _____________________________. Sit with the Lord briefly, then fill in the blank. These forty days are your journey, your Lenten season. You can do it. Jesus set that standard just for you, and He is with you every step of the way.    

Love Your Neighbor:

Peace be with you.

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.

 pastor@bscchurch.com