The Church steps into the beautiful season of Lent starting with Ash Wednesday. Today’s readings are a personal invitation to each one of us to reflect on the mysteries of this season and our journey towards conversion. Conversion doesn’t mean changing religion rather, it means drawing ourselves closer to God.
Some of us will be fasting from meat, alcohol, chocolates etc., which is good but what we really need to do is renew our relationship with God. We must reflect upon the mystery of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. And while doing so, we must also reflect on the love of God, which has been poured out within our hearts (Romans 5:5). We have to respond to this love by spreading it among others through acts of mercy, reaching out to the poor, healing relationships with those who hurt us and vice versa. In this way, we will renew our relationship with God.
I also encourage you to contribute towards the Sindhudurg Diocesan Development Society who is partnering with Caritas International for our Lenten outreach programs.
As a Lenten exercise, I invite you to meditate on the five sorrowful mysteries of the rosary: The agony of Jesus in the garden; the scourging of Jesus at the pillar; the crowning of Jesus with thorns; the carrying of the cross and the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross. I invite you to meditate on it and think of all the pain and suffering Jesus experienced during those traumatic days and he did it only because of love – love for you. I believe that when you meditate and reflect on these five sorrowful mysteries, you will draw closer to God.
I will be spiritually joining you in this Lenten exercise because I want to accompany you in this spiritual journey of drawing closer to the heart of God so that together we can experience his presence even more strongly in our lives and most importantly spread his presence and love among others. As St John Paul II once said, “Be not afraid … Open wide the doors to Christ!”.
As part of this Lenten exercise, I also invite you to make a good confession, spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and attend Mass more frequently. This Lenten exercise is not meant only for Lent because our journey does not end on Easter, it goes on throughout our life.
While I assure you of my prayers, I wish you and your families a joyful and fruitful Lenten season.
+Bishop Alwyn Barreto