Lent is often misunderstood as a season of mourning, but in reality, it is a time of joyful anticipation, a time to celebrate the victory of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a season that calls us to reflect not only on the sacrifice of Christ but also on the immense love that led Him to the cross. As we journey through these forty days, we are reminded of the price He paid for our redemption and the depth of His love that knows no bounds.
- A Reminder of His Love
Lent is a call to remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God. The Apostle Paul declares:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
This love is not distant or conditional. It is personal and unshakable. As St. Augustine beautifully put it:
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”
The cross is the ultimate expression of this love—Jesus willingly laid down His life so that we might live. Lent is not about sorrow for sorrow’s sake, but about responding to this love with gratitude, repentance, and renewal.
- A Time to Respond to His Love
Lent invites us to examine our hearts and realign our lives with God’s will. It is a time of self-discipline, but not as an act of self-punishment. Instead, it is a response to the love we have received. Jesus calls us to follow Him, not just in words but in actions. He said:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
The essence of following Christ is not mere ritual but transformation. We strive to be more like Him in love, kindness, and humility. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”
Lent is an opportunity to grow in our faith by loving God, loving one another, forgiving those who have wronged us, and making peace with one another. Jesus Himself commanded:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
This is the true mark of discipleship—not merely in religious observance but in love expressed through our lives.
- Living as His Disciples
To truly embrace the spirit of Lent, we must ask ourselves:
- Are we loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength?
- Are we showing grace and forgiveness to those who have hurt us?
- Are we seeking peace and reconciliation?
- Are we caring for the poor, the suffering, and the lost?
Thomas à Kempis reminds us:
“At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.”
Lent is not just a season of reflection but a call to action. It is a time to recommit ourselves to God’s purpose, to prove our discipleship not just with words but with deeds.
A Lenten Prayer
Lord, this season, draw us near,
Teach our hearts to love sincere.
Not in sorrow, but in grace,
To seek Your light, to see Your face.
Help us, Lord, to walk Your way,
To love, forgive, and humbly pray.
To lift the weak, the lost embrace,
To shine Your love in every place.
May this Lent not just be days,
But a life lived in Your ways.
Until the day we see You bright,
Our Risen Lord, our hope, our light.
Lent is not about what we give up—it is about what we take up. May this season be a time of transformation, as we grow deeper in love with Christ and live out His calling in our daily lives.
Amen.
