Posted by The WORD in other words (2021) by Fr Magdaleno Fabiosa SVD – Tagbilaran City, Bohol
1st Sunday of Lent – B
Like a real mother, the Church draws our attention, every now and then, to things of consequence in our life. Last Wednesday, we started the Lenten season, reminding us of two realities for our awareness of life’s direction: (a) Remember man and woman, that from dust you came and to dust you shall return, (b). Repent, and believe in the gospel.
Yes, we need to be reminded that everything in our life passes away except our love and our relationship with God. The ashes we received came from the dried up palm leaves, which were blessed at last year’s Palm Sunday. They were once lush and verdant palm leaves, but now they are nothing but ashes—a graphic reminder of where we all end up. Nothing human and material in us remains; we all return to dust.
It is so easy to fall in love with this world. In fact, many grow roots in this world such that they cannot imagine another world outside this. Scriptures remind us: What does it profit man or woman if they gain the whole world but loses their souls in the process? Losing one’s soul is missing the real point and purpose of our life, that is, to be related with God, to have a personal relationship with Him that St. John calls ETERNAL LIFE.
This relationship is not something that we attain through personal efforts. It is freely offered to us with no conditions at all – an offer of love and acceptance that makes us real and grow into full human beings. If we believe in this unconditional love, we then have a change of heart or lifestyle so we can start our relationship with Him.
In baptism, we have been drawn into this relationship. Our responsibility is for this relationship to grow. God’s part of the relationship is no problem because his track record of keeping his word is unquestionable.
Our part in the relationship is the problem. That is why the Church wants to draw our attention to this all-important reality in our life during this season of Lent. She wants us to examine what it is in our life that hinders growth in this relationship.
We have been through enough Lents to realize that complete transformation will probably not occur. But Lent is an opportunity for repair work in a specific area of our life that might need reconstruction. Each one of us has some part of our life that needs a lift and some remodeling. Lent is the time for this. Nobody is exempt. We all need repair work; we all need renewal.
Let us take the challenge posed to us by this season of Lent. Let us not waste this season of grace. Let us heed what the psalms suggest: If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
One comment