A Time of Renewal

February 28 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent is an old English word meaning 'springtime', and we Christians are called to make use of this spiritual springtime to renew our Christian life.

Lent has a special place in our liturgical calendar. It is the most serious and the most demanding time of the year. It is a time of grace, a time of prayer, a time of reflection, a time of self denial… but Lent is above all a time of RENEWAL, a time to renew our Christian life.

During Lent we find moments of silence, moments of solitude, to reflect on our Christian identity, to ask ourselves what kind of Christians we are. Lent is a time to rediscover what it really means to be a Christian.

We are Christians because we have received the baptism, because we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. But can we equally say that we are Christians because we live by the teachings of Jesus? None of us can claim to be a perfect Christian, a dedicated Christian, a hundred percent Christian…We are all 'ordinary' Christians, neither bad nor good…

During these days of Lent we try to 'live' the meaning of our baptism, we share in the Death of Jesus by dying to our sins. On Easter Sunday we will share in the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus with a 'renewed' Christian life!

- A.F. -

Time for Conversion of Heart

Conversion, our everyday turning away from evil and toward good, is not something we are expected to do on our own. Conversion is a grace of the Holy Spirit. Under the Spirit's guidance we are led to right thinking and good action. And with the help of the Spirit, we find the honesty to admit our failings and the courage to promise to do better. The sacrament of Reconciliation keeps us on track in our own individual work of conversion. It helps us to stop and reflect on how far we have come, and it helps us to resolve to continue the journey.

- from Liturgy & Worship

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance; but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.

- St. Augustine -

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