Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the 8th week in Ordinary Time, March 4, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Sirach 35: 1-12; Rs psalm 50: 5-6.7-8.14.23; Mark 10: 28-31GOD ACCEPTS OUR EMPTINESS  Our meditation today has the theme: God Accepts OurEmptiness. The Lent bell has begun to ring, a sign that Lent is coming soon.Tomorrow we will start with Ash Wednesday. This celebration is not like other feaststhat move people to prepare it with all the interests of the party. People makefeast and it is full with all the equipment, decoration, food, live music, events,and guests. The celebration that we will celebrate tomorrow isanother thing. In essence, Ash Wednesday is a celebration in the emptiness.There was one family that was preparing to enter the period of Lent. Thechildren asked their parents to shop for accessories just like they do in the preparationfor Christmas, but their parents made them realize that Lent is different.Household shopping, especially food was made simple. When children asked aboutwhy to make things simple, they were told that Lent is  so different from other experiences in thelife of the Church. The children were told that before going to school,they went first to attend the morning Holy Mass at the church with theirparents. The people would receive ashes on their heads. This only happens oncea year, during which children are included in the morning Mass. Although it isnot easy to convince them, they finally understood and wanted to participate inthe Ash Wednesday morning Mass. Of all the preparations at home, the mind and heartare directed to Ash Wednesday, especially that children can be taught aboutself-sacrifice. That is how that family practices its faith as a Catholicfamily. In other words, the family and all the other peoplewill offer the emptiness of themselves. The essence of self-emptying is that weare aware of our sins, regret them, and intend to renew ourselves. According tothe book of Sirach, we should not come to God empty, but should bring somethingmeaningful from each one of us, and that is pleasing to God. The teachings ofJesus Christ and the norms of the Church ask that we let go of all things fromthe riches of this world, that we may not be bound by them, as we come to God. So we empty ourselves by giving up all worldly thingsand all their influences, but we actually bring to Jesus what we keep, which isour faith, love and hope. We are committed to being with God throughout thislife, the love we share with others, and the hope of salvation for us in thehereafter, all of these are gifts we should offer to God. In short, we areempty for material and bodily matters, but we are full of spirituality andcommunion with God. That is our main offering.Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord, acceptevery offering of thanksgiving and our surrender every day. Hail Mary full ofgrace ... In the name of the Father...