Friday After Ash Wednesday A 2026

Day three of Lent.

 

We face the day knowing we need to continue our Lenten journey growing closer to God. Today we hear God telling Isaiah to encourage them to seek him earnestly and to fast his way.

He said to Isaiah,

“ This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!”

 

So as we move forward this Lent giving up and praying more, let us also remember to turn our attention outwardly. That God has us fast and at the same time give to others what they need.

He asks us to give up so we can give to others out of our need not excess.

He asks us to open our hearts recklessly and allow the sorrow and pain and oppression of others touch us and wound our spirit so we can be inspired to reach out to them and help them in their struggles.

 

We cannot see Lent as only a time of prayer or fasting but also a time for almsgiving and loving others to the point they are all brothers and sisters.

 

Many people this Lent,  right now, are suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually in ways we may not know. They are not in need of seeing our simple feats of fasting but rather need to see Christ’s love shine through us so they can have hope and comfort.

 

Let us not ask ourselves what we are giving up this Lent, but who will we give to.

 

We must always be facing outward, even in Lent. For we were not called to contemplate our inner being but to watch out for and consider how we can help others. Lent is a perfect time to give the money we need for food to those who need food. Give the money we might spend on clothing to those who need clothing.

 

Give the time we might use in extra prayers and give someone else our time to ensure they know we see them and remind them that Jesus Christ sees them and wants the best for them.

 

Happy Lent everyone. Time to do the Lord’s today.