Lenten reflection 1 : Conversion

 2 March 2017

The day after Ash Wednesday

Conversion

The same message of repentance and conversion is echoed in the first reading today (DT 30:15-20) when Moses gave his people a choice: either to choose life or death and doom. Needless to say, he exhorts them to choose life by loving God and following His commandments so that their descendants (and ours) will live and prosper.

The Psalmist reminds us: "Blessed are they who hope in the Lord", 
                                          he will be like a tree planted near running water, that
                                          yields its fruit in due season and whose leaves will never fade.
                                          whatever he does prosper"  (Ps 1:1- 6)

In the Gospel of Lk 9: 22-25, Jesus told his disciples that his life will not be easy, that he will suffer and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes. Likewise, to us all, Jesus has this to say: that we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily in order to follow him. It may sound frightening, but the saints have shown us that in the cross of Christ, there is deep love and mercy. To start with, when we consciously deny ourselves the material things which we do not need or could do without, we can slowly but surely win over the power of the flesh. This will give us a deep sense of satisfaction and serenity which encourages us to think more of others and their needs. The power of grace!  It is with this confidence that we venture forth in our Lenten journey, ready to be God's instrument, to bring love and happiness to our brethren and to all those we meet on our pilgrim way.  

                                     
                                      The Cross will not crush you; 
                                      if its weight makes you stagger,
                                      its power will also sustain you.

                                                             - St. Padre Pio -