Our Sermons
18 February 2026
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Ash Wednesday​
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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our spiritual journey toward Easter.
But what is the goal of this Lenten journey?
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The Book of the Prophet Joel tells us with astonishing clarity why we set out on this spiritual voyage: “Return to me with your whole heart.” These words touch a deep truth about our human condition. Our hearts often feel fragmented, pulled in too many directions. Torn apart by stress, anxieties, and constant preoccupations, we easily forget what is truly essential for a life worth living.
We lose sight of joy—that profound state of inner well-being that permeates the lives of those who live not by clock-time but by lived-time. These are the people we envy, those who seem able to enjoy and savour life fully, while we often find ourselves flailing in an ocean of restless concern.
At the beginning of Lent, we are invited to acknowledge that we need help. We are called to recognise our own helplessness in the face of the challenges before us. Our souls, in many ways, are unwell and in need of care. We need a spiritual physician—and Jesus comes to us with precisely the right treatment. He is our spiritual nutritionist, the one who knows what truly nourishes the soul.
Today, Jesus offers us three remedies to heal our hearts.
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First: Compassion
Jesus urges us to decentre ourselves, to loosen the grip of the ego. The striking image of giving alms in secret is meant to remind us that charity is not about making ourselves feel good or seeking recognition. True charity is about genuinely helping others out of love.
When we give without expecting anything in return—not even a “thank you”—we align ourselves with God’s compassionate love. This is a deeply transformative experience. It changes us, heals our souls, and leads us to authentic joy.
I once came across a story that beautifully illustrates this truth:
“My car broke down on the street, and I had no money for a tow truck. I began pushing it toward a nearby garage. Out of nowhere, an older man stood up from the curb and helped me push. He was homeless. As I spoke with the mechanic, I searched for some way to thank him, but he simply said, ‘I helped you because no one else would—a thank you is enough.’ I thanked him, and to this day, I look for him every time I’m in that neighbourhood.”
Second: Nurture Your Inner Life
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Jesus also invites us to pray and to rediscover silence.
In a culture where almost everything is displayed on social media or broadcast for all to see, there is very little space left for intimacy with God. Even our religious practices can sometimes become performative, shared with the best of intentions but at the risk of losing their depth.
Lent is a precious opportunity to return to what is essential—to what truly gives meaning to our often-chaotic lives. Jesus urges us to care for our inner reservoir of joy, which is found in silence, solitude, and hiddenness. These are the moments when no one sees us, when no one knows. And yet, these moments are our true treasure.
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Third: Learn the Meaning of Sacrifice
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Finally, Jesus speaks to us about fasting—about giving something up.
In our time, fasting has become fashionable, often tied to health trends and nutritional obsessions. For this reason, it can be difficult to reclaim its spiritual meaning. A healthier interpretation of fasting invites us to identify something that feeds our cravings and choose, freely, to let it go.
Once again, this practice calls us away from self-display and ego-gratification. True sacrifice is quiet. It resists the temptation to show off or to let the world know how disciplined or virtuous we are. Instead, it gently reshapes our hearts, creating space for God.
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At the beginning of our Lenten journey, we are gently and warmly invited to listen to the Doctor of the Soul—as we may rightly call our Lord Jesus—and to find our own way of putting his remedies into practice. One thing we can say with certainty about him is this: we can trust him. His wisdom is rooted in love—the redeeming love we contemplate in action every year at Easter.
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