A lenten journey

Our Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday. From there we are again reminded that from dust we come to dust we shall return, a truly humble beginning. From dust we are made in God’s own image and likeness. How sweet and beautiful life is.

But as the world age, life gets more complicated and the true essence of life has been forgotten by time. People are just busy making money, acquiring fame, influence, prestige and power aiming to be above the others and that urge basically turns to pride, envy, selfishness and greed.

But again the ash reminds us that we come with nothing and we go with nothing. We are all the same in the eyes of God and being equally loved.

Lent comes to remind us to slow down, contemplate and meditate life’s meaning and purpose as God’s greatest love foretold in this season of Lent, the most painful, humiliating and torturing kind of love to humanity.

Jesus proved that true love hurts and that true love conquers all. But Lent is not at all a time of sadness and grief but a time of hope and faith. We prepare ourselves in forty days by fasting, almsgiving, prayer and penance.

But even these sacrifices are simple. Fasting only means eat only one full meal and two smaller meals on a day. But sometimes foods are really tempting. Instead of eating less we even eat more. And we fail to abstain from meat on Fridays. We also find it hard to have time for prayer but we have enough time on our phones. It is just so shameful we cannot even make a little sacrifice for Jesus. We cannot even remember those who are hungry, the needy and those who have less than us. Worse we are not even willing to submit ourselves for confession. I think if this is our attitude surely nothing will happen or be changed in Lent.

Jesus himself set us his own example of perseverance and faithfulness in the desert. He was hungry, in anguish and tempted but was so firm and consistently submissive to the will of the Father.

We cannot make it alone, we need God’s grace to journey with us especially in this season of Lent so we may not get lost. God’s love is always greater than our own weakness and failings. Thank you Lord Jesus for the love and gift of salvation.

Have a blessed and meaningful Lenten journey.