Today, the readings are all about repentance and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Indeed, forgiveness is the gift of the Risen Christ in the early Christian communities. That is the forgiveness of sins that encourages us to seek a new life in Christ and the need not to be afraid.
Christ is the visible face of the Divine Mercy of God. The most evidential proof is that God is not a moralist legalist or sadist bent on eternal punishment for sinners. It is the unfathomable mercy and grace at work in us even in our sinful state. “Where sin abounds, grace (or mercy) abounds much more.” Romans 5:20
Alleluia! Defeat has been turned to Victory. Alleluia! Alleluia! The victim is now the Victor. Alleluia! Alleluia! Good has overcome evil. Alleluia! Alleluia! Life has been restored over death. Alleluia! Alleluia! Love has conquered hatred. Alleluia Alleluia! Light has dispelled the darkness! Alleluia! Alleluia. Virtuousness has replaced viciousness and sins. Alleluia! Alleluia! Forgiveness has been written over condemnation. Alleluia!
From the historical viewpoint, Jesus’ passion and death were a result of the excuses of men and the betrayal of the truth. In a nutshell, the passion and death of Jesus Christ is an exemplification of courage versus cowardice on the part of all the actors involved.
From Christ himself to the least participant in the passion and death narrative. In Christ, we see a journey of courage from the inception of his public ministry till his death on the cross.
In life, someone argues, there is meaning in dying in loving services for others. True life’s meaning is found when we live for others. This is because there is an absurdity that comes with life. When this sense of absurdness engulfs us with a sense of uncertainty and insecurity life becomes meaningless. In a moment like this, we can only find fulfillment and a sense of meaningfulness in the service of others through God.
The Christian life is full of an amazing and rejoicing grace in God when our souls meet with true repentance of sins and embrace the unfathomable mercy of God. No one is a Christian because he or she merits being one. It is all grace and nothing but grace. This is the most humble fact we must be conscious of daily.
God is love (1 John 4:8). Hence, to love is not only to be religious and spiritual but also to be God-like. Inarguably, love is at the basis of our religious teaching, preaching, doctrines, theology, philosophy, ideology, practices, and even rituals and rites. If these are devoid of love then religion is as useless as any human venture.
The readings of this Sunday point us to the necessary pain, suffering, and sacrifice of Lent. These lead to the renewal or transformation of our spirit, soul, and body. They invite us to be courageous when making a sacrifice for God. As our sacrifice renews God’s blessings upon us and strengthens our will to go through life bear with patience our crosses.
Lent is a desert experience of a long retreat of silence, reflection, meditation, and prayer. We all need this desert experience. Every Lenten season is a journey of grace into the desert. There are fewer distractions. It is quieter and clearer in the desert.
We all have different images of life as we experience, however amidst the absurdity of life, its meaning can be found in selfless acts or services to others. Someone, once argued that the only meaning of life is through the service of others.