The Liturgical season Lent has just begun with Ash Wednesday. The ashes which are placed on our foreheads by the priest remind us that Lent is a season of repentance. Lent also reminds us that Jesus Christ loves us unconditionally. Therefore I would prefer to describe Lent as a joyful season.
Only recently we were sharing about our own resolutions for Lent in a group meeting. The usual resolutions were discussed such as going to the pub less, not using the Internet as much, attending Sunday mass, and not quarrelling with siblings. But suddenly one of the group said something different. He said that he would respond to the invitation of falling in love with Jesus. We were amazed and within a few seconds the room was silent. Everybody kept looking each other. Then he began to elaborate. “Jesus Christ died on the Cross because he loves us. He loves us so much that he did not hesitate to lay down his life for our salvation. In return all he wants us to do is love him. Perhaps you all might wonder how we can we love him because He is invisible? Moreover he is Son of God! Our actions should show that we love him. We can love him only by imitating his life. He is happy when he sees we are living out the message he preached, that is the message of the Gospels. This year I will try to response to his love and this is my Lent resulotion.’’
I found the sharing had a very profound message. These days we do see the expression of love in the lives of many people. Many even choose to lay down their lives due to the absence of love. Many spend money to express their love to those closest to them. But have we ever thought of loving Jesus? We might often say that we love Jesus but do our actions really demonstrate that we love him? Down through the ages many great people showed us how to love Jesus by the example of their lives. Even in modern times, Mother Teresa showed us how to really love Jesus. In many of her interviews she used to say that she worked among the poorest of poor only because she loves Jesus. She saw the face of Jesus in the poorest of poor in Calcutta.
As we have just entered Lent season, let us look at our life today. Let us see where do we place Jesus in our lives? Are we ready to fall in love with Jesus?
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