Quresima 2018

“Feeling joyful while doing penance”  during the Lent can this be possible? This is the question asked to me recently. And it is not a time to be sad. But it is a time to make some sacrifices, to pray to connect to God and do penance happily which one might have neglected in other moments. Some people feel guilty during the lent of not having done enough spiritually or emotionally. And it is also a time of love and a time to think about God.

Respecting some of our brothers who concentrate very often on the ‘sinfulness’ of our nature we could take the inspiration of few of our brothers like Bernardino Ochino who thought differently even during the time of our Founder Mateo Da Bascio by contemplating more on the love of God. It gave them a new vision and motivation based on God’s love while some other friars were concentrating on the punishment of God for the sins committed. In that way Lent for could be a time to contemplate the ‘Sacrificial love’ of God in Jesus. This meditation will inspire us to share that love and celebrate the life we are gifted with. Concentrating too much on our sinful nature may make us closed within. On the other hand those who meditate and celebrate love have new identity and lots of self-esteem. But due to life events that are painful it may be true that we are not able to value ourselves and grow in self-esteem. Lack of integral growth and healing could be one of the reasons for our ill-health and sadness.

 

During these days of renewal we could journey backward into our past and see the blessings that we had and we are. In that process we could also identify the areas and experiences that negatively impacted on our self-esteem as human persons. It is a time to meditate upon the great love that God gave us in the person of Jesus and in his passion to transform the world in the universal love of the Kingdom. This kingdom is a possibility to work at so that every human being enjoys the blessings that this earth possesses from the infinite generosity of God.

As we meditate upon God’s unconditional love we would be inspired to add that love dimension in all our efforts and relationships. It has to be a time of healing so that we could be free to love even those that hate us and experience love power that God proved through the Cross of Jesus and his Resurrecting passion.

Those who posses this love will truly celebrate life with the whisper: Hey this life is lovely; I am moving forward gracefully in God’s love, Healing my past and transforming myself in Jesus.

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