Ask God for forgiveness during Lent

02-18-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Aruldoss

Dear People of God.

Good morning to you all. Today is already first Sunday of Lent. The readings of this Sunday are inviting us to renew our covenant with God. Here I would like write a little about the season of Lent.

As we all know, the season of Lent has been begun already. Lent is a time of conversion and penance that the Catholic Church offers to believers to prepare for and live the Easter triduum — the mystery of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. During the 40 days (this year Feb. 14–March 28), Catholics can set goals to grow in holiness and help others do the same.

Again, Lent is a time to offer acts of reparation through Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving so that we might be purified in all areas of our life and walk with the Gracious Healer, who sacrificed His life for our sake. Let us commit to spending extra time with our Lord in prayer — He will purify the heart that has been wounded. Let us fast from something that competes for our attention or holds us back from our relationship with God.

As we offer that sacrifice to the Lord, we will be filled with freedom and peace and will be strengthened in the face of temptation. And let us give alms to God in thanksgiving for His gifts that He has poured out on us. It will remind us that everything we have is a gift from God — everything good comes from Him, and we want to share every aspect of our lives with Him. Let us approach this holy season of Lent as an opportunity to be healed and cleansed.

He is ready to stretch out His hand to heal us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And let us consider what we can do to offer acts of reparation so that we might be purified and one day partake in the resurrection of Christ.

Let us sincerely make use of this period of Lent to ask God for forgiveness for all the moments we have not been faithful to our covenant with him.

Have a Happy and Blessed Sunday!