CHRISTIANS URGED TO EMBRACE THEIR IDENTITY IN CHRIST DURING ASH WEDNESDAY MASS
Christians have been called to “have the right identity with Christ” during this Lent season, which coincides with the Jubilee Year of Prayer 2025. His Excellency Hubertus van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and the Holy See’s representative, delivered this message during the Ash Wednesday Mass celebration at the Holy Family Minor Basilica.
In his homily, Archbishop van Megen emphasized the importance of living as true ambassadors of Christ. He urged Christians to detach from anything that does not align with their faith and to act with urgency in their spiritual journey.
“You are called to be ambassadors of Christ. It is important to do away with things that do not coincide with your identity as a Christian with urgency, for God expects us to act now. It is not a battle against another person but a spiritual battle against our human weaknesses and fragility,” he stated.
He further reflected on the significance of receiving ashes, explaining that the ritual serves as an exercise in humility and a reminder of human mortality. “We receive the ashes and say, ‘Remember you are from dust, and to dust you shall return.’ This reminds us that we struggle, we fall, and we find it hard to be good Christians. That is why confession is encouraged to seek forgiveness and align ourselves with Christ.”
During the Lenten season, His Excellency the nuncio encouraged Christians to uphold their true identity not through outward displays but through sincere acts of faith, almsgiving, and prayer. Quoting Matthew 6:6, he reminded the congregation, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who sees in secret. Then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” He continued in Matthew 6:3-4, emphasizing the discreet nature of giving: “When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”
As Christians reflect on this season of Lent, they are reminded of their greater calling as Christ’s ambassadors on earth. The homily reinforced the importance of the three pillars of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as essential practices in aligning with God’s kingdom.
