In our second reading this weekend St. Paul sums up all of Lent for me. He encourages us that “hope does not disappoint” and plainly tells us of the cost of that eternal spring, namely, that God proves his love by dying for us.
That brutal revelation and simple reality is our faith. Yes, you are so beautiful, so beloved and so cared for, that your God died for you. What are we to do with such knowledge?
We may intellectualize it, not believe it or simply ignore it, but St. Paul is here to tell us, “in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” We cannot mature spiritually this Lent until we understand that unpolished reality. It can encourage us, maybe even depress us, but the knowledge tells us that this Lenten journey is one towards the cross. Whatever that cross is for you, once we meet our Savior on that hill we can, like Jesus, conquer it.
Fr. Emmett Gavin, O.Carm., in his beautiful sermon as part of our Lenten Mission, discussed how Jesus and his apostles knew very well that the journey toward Jerusalem would end in pain, but it is our hope today, as it was their hope, that we will not be disappointed. God will conquer all, even death! Happy Lent.
I’ll be seeing you,
Elliot