2 Chronicles 36.14-16,19-23・Ps.137. 1+2, 3+4, 5+6・Ephesians 2.4-10・John 3.14-21
Today is the start of the second week we all pray as a community for our brothers and sisters who are preparing for the sacrament of baptism this coming Easter. May those who have been journeying with them in understanding Catholic faith continue to carry-on with courage for all the candidates.
4th Sunday of Lent brings us deeper to the understanding of the necessity of acknowledging all the sins we have committed, and acknowledging our half-hearted acceptance of Jesus as our Lord. Maybe, picking-up only a part of the truth about Jesus, and what we only like about Him for our personal convenience & selfish motives, are signs of our coldness (to Him). May the use of our time and energy to realize our intentions may not just be a so-called self-serving plans and for shallow convenience purposes only. After all, the heart of Lent is an invitation to truly repent, make a change of heart, make specific changes of our hearts’ desires, and serve sincerely.
Indeed, every second of the day we still keep on sinning. While we do, (sinning again and again). we are not able to see and experience all the graces that come from the salvation brought about by Christ`s sacrifices on the cross. Similarly, we are not able to share to others the graces brought about by Christ`s victory from the weaknesses of this world.
Can we challenge ourselves to create “a big turn,” put in the trash all the bad habits, revisit and re-examine understanding/ways of thinking that have long been overdue for renewal? Do not be afraid to embrace daily life`s “purifying radical Christian life.”
So let us serve the purpose of our Christian existence. Welcome everyone, give voice to the voiceless in the society, live with the poor, feed the hungry, do not judge, underestimate no one, refrain from superciliousness and self-conceitedness. This is the meaning of, and just few ways of accepting Jesus.