The beginning of a new spiritual cycle
Next Wednesday, with the commemoration of Ash Wednesday, Lent will begin, a forty -day period dedicated to reflection and preparation for Easter. This time, which comes from the Latin ‘quadgersima’, symbolizes a spiritual journey to renewal and reconciliation with God.
A time of reflection and transformation
Lent is presented as an opportunity for personal conversion through fasting, prayer and alms. Beliers seek in this path the illumination that comes from the gospel, as expressed by the Pope in his recent Bull of the Jubilee Year: ‘The Holy Spirit illuminates believers with a flame of hope that never goes out, reinforcing our spiritual life.’
Remembering the lessons from the past
This period evokes the forty years of the people of Israel in the desert and the days that Jesus spent in solitude, reflecting on the meaning of material things before beginning their mission. Lent invites us to a moment of inner silence, the introspection and overcoming our weaknesses through faith.
Hope and renewal: Lent pillars
One of the most important aspects of this season is its dimension of hope. Although Lent involves sacrifice and penance, it is also a path that directs us to the resurrection of Christ. The cross, far from being the end, is a necessary step towards victory over death.
Specific acts of love and solidarity
During Lent, this hope must be manifested through specific actions such as forgiveness, austerity and solidarity. It is not only an individual transformation, but also a collective commitment to transform the world with the values of the gospel.
Lent: a path of excitement and reinvention
Instead of being a period of sadness, Lent must be seen as a journey to Easter light, a time when life triumphs over death. Thus, this time reminds us that faith holds us and that, with God, there is always a new opportunity for a Renaissance.
Preparing for spiritual renewal
Many will be completing their preparation within the catechumenate to be baptized and admitted to the community of the faithful. His devotion reminds us of the importance of renewing our own baptism, a gift of God that unites us to Christ and fills us with the Holy Spirit to be alive witnesses of his loving presence.
Final Reflections: A Way of Faith and Hope
Lent, therefore, is a time of personal and community growth, an invitation to live with hope and to share the love of God with others. In this path, each step closer to the true essence of Easter, where the triumph of life over death becomes palpable.