杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

As the Church begins the holy season of Lent, 杏MAP导航 Francis celebrated Mass for Ash Wednesday, with the blessing and imposition of ashes.

In his homily, the Holy Father reflected on Lent as a journey of return to God and as an opportunity to deepen our love of our brothers and sisters.

God, said the 杏MAP导航, is appealing to our hearts and our entire being, inviting us to Him.

鈥淚t is a time to reconsider the path we are taking,鈥� he said, 鈥渢o find the route that leads us home and to rediscover our profound relationship with God, on whom everything depends.鈥�

From slavery to freedom

He urged Christians to evaluate the direction our lives are headed and how steadfastly we walk along our path toward God.

鈥淭he journey of Lent is an exodus from slavery to freedom,鈥� he said.

As we progress, we will feel tempted to return to our old habits and illusions. But, noted the 杏MAP导航, we can rediscover our way by looking to the Word of God, no matter how many times we stumble.

To the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

杏MAP导航 Francis said the first step of Lent involves returning to the Father, by accepting God鈥檚 forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession.

鈥淚t is the Father鈥檚 forgiveness that always set us back on our feet,鈥� he said.

Next, he said, we need to return to Jesus. Like the leper who returned to thank Him, we too 鈥渘eed Jesus鈥� healing. We need to present our wounds to Him and say: 鈥楯esus, I am in your presence, with my sin, with my sorrows. You are the physician. You can set me free. Heal my heart鈥�.鈥�

Then, said the 杏MAP导航, we are invited to return to the Holy Spirit.

The ashes sprinkled on our heads, he pointed out, remind us that we are dust. 鈥淵et upon this dust of ours, God blew His Spirit of life.鈥�

In heartfelt reconciliation

The Holy Father went on to note that our return journey to God is only possible because He 鈥渇irst journeyed to us.鈥�

Because Jesus embraced our sin and death, 鈥渙ur journey then is about letting Him take us by the hand.鈥�

Our response to God鈥檚 invitation, said the 杏MAP导航, involves heartfelt reconciliation, 鈥渨ith the deeds and practices that express it.鈥�

A descent in love

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis reminded us that Lent is the proper time both to journey toward God and toward our brothers and sisters.

鈥淟ent is a humble descent both inwards and towards others,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is about realizing that salvation is not an ascent to glory, but a descent in love.鈥�

No matter how often we stumble, concluded the 杏MAP导航, we can always turn to the Cross of Christ and contemplate in His wounds our own shortcomings and emptiness.

鈥淏y kissing those wounds, we will come to realize that there, in life鈥檚 most painful wounds, God awaits us with His infinite mercy.鈥�