40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Ash Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Joel 2:12-18 +++ 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 +++ Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Thank you,
merciful Father 
for personally calling us
to return to you this Lent
as we mark its start with
Ash Wednesday;
thank you, Father
in sending us your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord
to lead us back to you,
reminding us of your
abiding presence despite
our turning away from you;
thank you for his Vicar,
Pope Leo XIV in guiding us
in this Lenten journey into
our inner selves,
into our hearts
to find you,
to rest in you,
and to remain in you.

“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God” (Joel 2:12-13).

Rend my heart,
dear Jesus,
that I may start listening
anew to your words,
in listening to your silence
to lead me into conversion;
rend my heart,
O Lord,
that I may always listen
to you in my brothers
and sisters' pleas for help
amid their many pains
and suffering because
I have been numb to them,
unmindful of their presence;
rend my heart,
Jesus so you may be my core
not easily swayed by
that little gadget the cellphone
that had become the modern baal
of our time
we unconsciously follow
and obey
instead of you,
Lord.

Rend my heart,
dear Jesus,
that I may truly fast
by emptying myself
of my pride and sins
so that you may fill me
with your humility,
justice,
and love;
rend my heart,
O Lord,
that I may "hunger" more
for your values
and "thirst" for your
 love and mercy
by "disarming our language,
avoiding harsh words
and rash judgment,
refraining from slander";
render my heart,
Jesus,
 so I may fast my tongue,
"striving to measure our words,
cultivate kindness
and respect
 so that words of hatred
may give way
 to words of hope and peace." 

Rend my heart,
dearest Jesus,
so that my listening
and fasting may lead into
the common good,
into a communion
of your disciples
attentive to God and
to the least among us;
rend my heart,
Lord Jesus Christ
not only to cleanse my conscience
but also to enhance
the quality of my relationships
and dialogue with each other
 in the power
of the Holy Spirit.

Rend my heart,
Lord Jesus Christ
to help me find my way back
to the Father
in you,
through you,
and with you.
Amen.

*Prayer based
on Pope Leo XIV's
first Lenten Message,
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/13