Today we Christians begin the sacred season of Lent. Today's Gospel reading gives us the three practices of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The question we ask ourselves again today is, why these three evangelical practices?

Why do we need to pray more during this time? Well, for the matter of sin. We need to ask God for forgiveness for our sins. Bartimaeus in the Gospel teaches us to pray: "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me." The good thief who was crucified next to the Lord, begged him: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Why do we need to give alms or do works of loving service? Well, because God listens to our prayer when we have also heard the plea of ​​our neighbor, especially the needy.

Why do we need to fast or make bodily sacrifices? Well, because we must offer God a sacrifice for our sins. King David taught us to pray: “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” (Psalm 50).

The ashes we receive today on our foreheads symbolize our attitude of internal penance to which the Church invites us during Lent.

These three evangelical practices go hand in hand; one cannot exist without the other two. Fasting, for example, does not bear fruit unless it is watered with almsgiving.

Let us ask the Lord to give us a spirit of repentance.