Family passed away just because they did it… See more

This year, the Lord grants us, once again, a propitious time to prepare ourselves to celebrate with a renewed heart the great mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the cornerstone of our personal and communal Christian life. We must continually return to this mystery in mind and heart, for it will continue to grow within us to the extent that we open ourselves to its spiritual power and respond with freedom and generosity.

Christian joy springs from hearing and accepting the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This kerygma encapsulates the mystery of a love “so real, so true, so concrete, that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue” (Christus Vivit, 117). Those who believe in this message reject the lie that our life is ours to do with as we please. Rather, life is born from the love of God the Father, from his desire to give us life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). If, on the other hand, we listen to the tempting voice of the “father of lies” (Jn 8:44), we run the risk of sinking into the abyss of absurdity and experiencing hell here on earth, as too many tragic events in personal and collective human experience sadly attest.

In this Lent of 2020, I would like to share with every Christian what I wrote to young people in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: “Keep your gaze fixed on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified, let yourself be saved again and again. And when you come to confess your sins, believe firmly in his mercy that frees you from your guilt. Contemplate his blood poured out with such love and let yourself be purified by it. Thus you will be able to be reborn forever” (no. 123). The Passion of Jesus is not a past event; rather, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is always present, allowing us to see and touch with faith the flesh of Christ in those who suffer.

It is good to contemplate more deeply the Paschal Mystery through which God’s mercy has been granted to us. Indeed, the experience of mercy is only possible in a face-to-face relationship with the crucified and risen Lord, “who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20), in a sincere dialogue among friends. This is why prayer is so important during Lent. More than a duty, prayer is an expression of our need to respond to the love of God that always precedes and sustains us. Christians pray knowing that, although unworthy, we are still loved. Prayer can take various forms, but what truly matters in God’s eyes is that it penetrates deep within us and weakens our hardness of heart, so that we may convert ever more fully to God and his will.

Related Posts

STORY Nancy Guthrie’s Final Three-Word Text Deepens the Family’s Mystery

As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, a small but deeply personal detail has taken on powerful meaning for her family. Beyond the public investigation and ongoing…

70 year old man k!lls his own wife after discovering that she was M… see more

What was meant to be a celebration of love and commitment has turned into a tragedy that no one could have ever imagined. Just a few hours…

World famous singer found

The LA Medical Examiner’s Office said that Binzer passed away on June 24. incredible talent and larger-than-life personality left an indelible mark on all who knew him…

Sad news for drivers over 70, they will soon no longer be able to…

Are Older Drivers Still Fit to Drive? Should older drivers be retested, like students retaking an exam? Age alone doesn’t determine driving ability—but certain signs deserve caution. Driving After…

Police are urging everyone to stay away from this area 👇😨🚨 Full story below

On Thursday morning, an active shooter incident unfolded at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital, located just north of Detroit. The terrifying situation began around 7:08 a.m., sending…

BREAKING: 10 MINUTES AGO — Police just called Savannah Guthrie to inform her they’ve detected a signal from her mother — she’s currently… See full details below

Police have just contacted Savannah Guthrie with a fragile update in the ongoing search for her missing mother, confirming that investigators have detected a brief, unexplained signal…