Family passed away just because they did it… See more

This year, the Lord grants us, once again, a propitious time to prepare ourselves to celebrate with a renewed heart the great mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the cornerstone of our personal and communal Christian life. We must continually return to this mystery in mind and heart, for it will continue to grow within us to the extent that we open ourselves to its spiritual power and respond with freedom and generosity.

Christian joy springs from hearing and accepting the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This kerygma encapsulates the mystery of a love “so real, so true, so concrete, that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue” (Christus Vivit, 117). Those who believe in this message reject the lie that our life is ours to do with as we please. Rather, life is born from the love of God the Father, from his desire to give us life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). If, on the other hand, we listen to the tempting voice of the “father of lies” (Jn 8:44), we run the risk of sinking into the abyss of absurdity and experiencing hell here on earth, as too many tragic events in personal and collective human experience sadly attest.

In this Lent of 2020, I would like to share with every Christian what I wrote to young people in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: “Keep your gaze fixed on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified, let yourself be saved again and again. And when you come to confess your sins, believe firmly in his mercy that frees you from your guilt. Contemplate his blood poured out with such love and let yourself be purified by it. Thus you will be able to be reborn forever” (no. 123). The Passion of Jesus is not a past event; rather, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is always present, allowing us to see and touch with faith the flesh of Christ in those who suffer.

Related Posts

A List of 16 Countries That Are Avoiding Travelers from the U.S.

A List of 16 Countries That Are Avoiding Travelers from the U.S.

Growing Tensions: Why Some Countries Are Rethinking U.S. Visitors While many Americans still travel abroad freely, some countries are growing wary of their visits. Cultural clashes, political…

Trump Praises Press Secretary With Bizarre Comment About Her Lips

Trump Praises Press Secretary With Bizarre Comment About Her Lips

President Trump raised eyebrows again during a Newsmax interview when he gushed about Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a way that many people found awkward. He called…

Trump makes his position on the 2028 election crystal clear

Trump makes his position on the 2028 election crystal clear

President Donald Trump has officially addressed the speculation surrounding a potential third run for the White House. In a recent interview with CNBC on August 6, Trump stated he will “probably not” run…

Senator Rand Paul Challenges Trump’s Use of Tariffs, Citing Constitutional Concerns

Senator Rand Paul Challenges Trump’s Use of Tariffs, Citing Constitutional Concerns

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has renewed criticism of former President Donald Trump’s use of tariffs, arguing that they function as taxes and should require approval from Congress….

4-year-old and great-grandmother killed in farming accident

4-year-old and great-grandmother killed in farming accident

Four-year-old Maverick Lee Flinn was the little boy with the bright smile and toy tractors, his laughter and boundless curiosity warming everyone he met. On Monday, June…

Popes unsettling one-word message to the United States goes viral

Popes unsettling one-word message to the United States goes viral

Pope Leo XIV’s recent one-word statement—”Many”—has taken the internet by storm, igniting conversations across political, religious, and cultural lines. Though short, the message carried an unexpected weight,…