A Spiritual Path
With ashes on our heads we begin Lent. It is not just a liturgical time, it is a spiritual journey. It is not a time to act, but to let the Lord act.
In this period, we are asked to be very quiet and faithful in prayer. It is a silence and an ecclesial prayer that surrenders to the Lord and his grace.
Lament and Trust
This year’s Lent, due to so many situations of suffering, is a lament before the Lord, a plea for his great mercy, an infinite trust in him.
He is the God of the covenant, sealed with the cross of his Son and made present; it is a gift for the forgiveness of sins in every Eucharist.
Active Cooperation in Grace
The Lenten liturgy is a gift to allow ourselves to be led ecclesiastically by the Lord. It is not passivity or quietism, but the most active cooperation in grace.
Lenten sobriety strips us of all forms of self-referentiality and worldliness. It frees us from excessive concern for ourselves, for structures and from fear of the future.
The Silent Waiting for Salvation
It is necessary to wait silently for the salvation of God, says the Scripture. Without the circularity of grace that is communicated in the members of the Church, no cunning, no human wisdom, no pastoral strategy, will save the Church.
We await his gifts, the wonders of a new exodus, of a new Easter.
