This year, the Lord bestows upon us yet again a favorable opportunity to ready ourselves for the celebration of the profound mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which is the foundation of our individual and collective Christian existence.
It is essential that we consistently reflect on this mystery with both our minds and hearts, as it will flourish within us to the extent that we remain receptive to its spiritual influence and respond with both freedom and generosity.
The joy of a Christian arises from hearing and embracing the Good News regarding the death and resurrection of Jesus. This proclamation encapsulates the profound mystery of a love that is ‘so real, so true, so concrete, that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue’ (Christus Vivit, 117). Those who accept this message reject the falsehood that life is solely ours to manage as we please.
Instead, life originates from the love of God our Father, who desires to bestow upon us a life of abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). Conversely, if we heed the alluring voice of the ‘father of lies’ (Jn 8:44), we risk descending into a void of meaninglessness, thereby experiencing a form of hell on earth, as evidenced by numerous tragic occurrences in both personal and collective human experiences.
During this Lent of 2020, I wish to convey to all Christians the message I shared with the youth in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: ‘Focus your gaze on the outstretched arms of the crucified Christ, allowing yourself to be saved repeatedly.
When you approach the sacrament of confession, have unwavering faith in His mercy that liberates you from guilt. Reflect on His blood shed with profound love, and permit it to purify you. In this manner, you can experience continual rebirth’ (No. 123).
The Paschal mystery of Jesus is not merely a historical occurrence; rather, through the Holy Spirit’s power, it remains ever-present, allowing us to perceive and connect with the suffering flesh of Christ through faith.
It is beneficial to reflect more profoundly on the paschal mystery through which we have received God’s mercy. The experience of mercy can only be realized in a direct relationship with the crucified and risen Lord, who loved me and sacrificed himself for me (Gal 2:20), fostering a sincere dialogue between friends.
This underscores the significance of prayer during Lent. More than merely an obligation, prayer represents our innate desire to respond to God’s love, which always precedes and supports us. Christians engage in prayer with the understanding that, despite our unworthiness, we are still cherished.
Prayer can manifest in various forms, but what is truly essential in God’s perspective is that it reaches deep within us and softens our hardened hearts, leading us to a more profound conversion to God and His will.
The Lord’s repeated offer of a favorable opportunity for our conversion should always be regarded with utmost seriousness. This chance should inspire within us a profound sense of gratitude and motivate us to overcome our complacency.
Even in the face of the often tragic reality of evil present in our lives, as well as in the Church and the world, this moment to redirect our paths reflects God’s steadfast desire to maintain his salvific dialogue with us. In the figure of the crucified Jesus, who was sinless yet took on our sins (cf. 2 Cor 5:21), this divine will compelled the Father to impose upon his Son the burden of our transgressions, thereby illustrating, as Pope Benedict XVI articulated, the “turning of God against himself” (Deus Caritas Est, 12). For indeed, God extends his love even to his adversaries (cf. Mt 5:43-48).
The conversation that God seeks to initiate with each individual through the paschal mystery of His Son is not akin to trivial discussions, reminiscent of the ancient Athenians who “occupied themselves solely with the pursuit of novelty” (Acts 17:21). This kind of superficial dialogue, driven by a hollow curiosity, epitomizes the secular mindset throughout history; in contemporary times, it may also lead to the misuse of media.
Placing the paschal mystery at the core of our existence entails cultivating compassion for the suffering of the crucified Christ, reflected in the numerous innocent victims of warfare, assaults on life—from the unborn to the elderly—and various acts of violence. This compassion also extends to those affected by environmental catastrophes, the inequitable distribution of the planet’s resources, human trafficking in all its manifestations, and the insatiable desire for profit, which constitutes a form of idolatry.
Even today, it is essential to encourage individuals of goodwill to contribute through almsgiving, sharing their resources with those in greatest need, as a way to actively engage in the creation of a better world. Charitable acts enhance our humanity, while accumulating wealth can diminish it, trapping us in our own selfishness.
We must also delve deeper and examine the structural elements of our economic systems. Therefore, during this year’s Lent, from March 26 to 28, I have organized a gathering in Assisi with young economists, entrepreneurs, and innovators, aimed at fostering a more equitable and inclusive economy. As the Church’s teachings have frequently emphasized, political engagement is a significant form of charity (cf. Pius XI, Address to the Italian Federation of Catholic University Students, December 18, 1927). The same principle applies to economic activities, which can be approached with the same evangelical mindset, embodying the spirit of the Beatitudes.
I request the intercession of Mary Most Holy, that our observance of Lent may prepare our hearts to respond to God’s invitation for reconciliation, to focus on the paschal mystery, and to engage in a genuine and open dialogue with Him. Through this, we shall embody what Christ calls his disciples to be: the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-14).
