As we begin our Lent on this First Sunday, let us prepare ourselves for a deep conversion in our hearts in order to come closer to God and to feel deeply His presence and His love in our hearts. Speaking of Lent, St.Augustine says: “We should also make a cross for ourselves out of the curbing of the pleasures of life….this cross …is not just meant for forty days , but for the whole of this life.”
Today all the readings in the Scriptures call us to this conversion of our hearts, to a change of our attitudes, and perceptions. In the reading from the Old Testament, we are reminded of the covenant God has established with humanity. God’s faithfulness remains firm and steadfast even if man turns out to be unfaithful.
Faithfulness of God to humanity is seen in the infinite love He has shown in the redemption accomplished through Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has promised that He would be with us until the end of the world.
In the context of the faithfulness of God, we have to examine our lives to find we how sincere we are in our faithfulness to God. We have entered into a covenant with Him at different times in our lives—at our Baptisms, at the time of marriages and at all important stages in our lives. But how sincere and committed are we in our faithfulness? Instances are plenty in our lives when we have failed God and our neighbors in our faithfulness.
But our weaknesses and fragility should not create feelings of despair in us. We are not alone in this journey: Jesus walks with us, offers us His support and strength. The words of Jesus at the beginning of His ministry after the forty days of fasting, inner struggles and temptations in the desert should offer us strength and confidence. His words extend to us chances for a new start in our lives. “ Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Instead of finding excuses or devising new reasons to justify our sinful actions, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Jesus offers us this forgiveness all the time in our lives to make a new start, to turn a new life in our lives. Only thing is that we should have the humility to say “ Lord I have sinned against you.”
These days of Lent are very opportune moments for us to make a deep change in our lives…time to forget and to forgive. If there is any one with whom we have been estranged or some one who has hurt us deeply, we shall ask the Lord to give us the grace to forgive that person or persons. If there is some situation or event in our lives, that prevents us from coming closer to God, this is the moment for us to free ourselves from those situations and events.
Let our prayer be the following: “ Lord, each spring, you renew the face of the earth. May you also renew each of us, so that we may be able to celebrate Easter in newness of mind and heart.”
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