Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Ash Wednesday, February 18th, 2026

Delivered by Kezia from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Joel 2: 12-18; Rs psalm 51: 3-4.5-6a.12-13.14.17; 2 Corinthians 5: 20 - 6: 2; Matthew 6: 1-6.16-18.STANDARD OF SPIRITUAL LIFE  Our meditation on the Ash Wednesday is entitled:Standard of Spiritual Life. There are a lot of lifestyle changes in ourfamilies due to technological and communication advancements. Stephen andMelania's family, along with their three children, who live in different placesdue to different works, maintain communication among them through the familywhatsapp group. Stephen once shared to his friends, saying that his family'sspiritual life has a true Christian standard, especially the regular time ofprayer together in the family. They use this media to pray together.  Judaism tradition and religion inherit a standard of spirituallife that later Jesus Christ taught us as well. This spirituality standard includesthree basic acts, namely fasting, praying, and doing charity. The Jews obligethis on every one in their religion. If all three were done in an orderly andgood manner, a person is said as a good believer and blessed by God. Jesus alsotaught His disciples to do same. They were obliged to pray, fast and docharity. However, there is a distinctive element that definesthe different character between the spirituality model taught by Jesus and theone practiced by the Jews, especially according to the religious leaders andPharisees. The difference is related to motivation or intention. For Jesus and allof us who follow Him, the motivation for praying, fasting, and doing charity isto make a close and intimate relationship with God. It is truly a spiritualaffair, a matter of the heart, and an activity of faith in God. The book of theprophet Joel in the first reading emphasizes a renewal of the heart, and notoutward affairs such as torn clothes and other external attributes inherent inour bodies and environment. This confirms that the Jewish spiritual life is verycontrary to what Jesus taught. Their spirituality is not for God but to earnthe praise of others that they are holy and good. They have already earnedtheir reward by what they did in front of people, while God has not given them dueblessings. Jesus makes it clear that we should not follow such externalstandard. Our standard is in the heart that has a direct relationship with God.Whenever these three acts of righteousness are done properly, it is when oneexperiences the act of salvation from God, says Saint Paul in today's secondreading. This is the spirit of Ash Wednesday that we allcelebrate on this day to begin our Lenten season. Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord God, maythis Ash Wednesday celebration grant us new spirit to begin the journey of  our spiritual renewal in this Lent period. OurFather who art in heaven... In the name of the Father...