The season of Lent is upon us, and has in fact begun a few days ago on Ash Wednesday when Christians in the tens of millions flocked to Churches around the world to receive ashes on their foreheads. This was done as a sign of repentance for sin and in humble acknowledgement of human mortality. This is a time for renewal, for serious soul-searching and spiritual stock-taking. We are called over the next forty days to imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the desert for forty days to confront the temptations of the world, and to be renewed in spirit..

The Bible traces the origin of human evil to the fall of our first parents in the garden of Eden. Jesus, however, reverses the consequences of Adam’s fall by entering into the wilderness and taking on the forces of evil, and heralding a new beginning for all mankind, proclaiming : “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” ( Mark 1 : 15 ). By standing up to the forces of temptation, Jesus tipped the course of human behavior God-ward and made it possible for those who follow Him to live lives free of the control of evil. What a difference it makes to our world and human relationships when people deliberately chose love of God over love of money, destructive narcissism, and the awful abuse of power!

Lent originally meant Springtime. It is a time for spring cleaning that speaks of new life just like Springtime. And the life we are talking about during Lent is the life of the soul. Don’t be afraid to enter into your own inner wilderness, to work out your own problems in the silence and hiddenness of the soul, and to be renewed in spirit. You may not like what you see, but don’t lose heart, don’t be afraid. God sees into your heart, and there is no sin that His love cannot wash away. He does not abandon you or leave you to the devises of the evil one. His holy spirit will guide you, and show you what to do.

This is a time, then, to put our spiritual lives in order, to throw away old attachments to sin and to embrace the new life of the gospel which is ever ancient and ever new. Think about what Jesus asks of you this lent : “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” To enter into this renewal, you need to know where your darkness lurks in the wilderness of the soul, and you need to know how to enter into the light. Thus there are two basic things you should do during Lent : 1. Repent of wrongdoing; 2. Embrace the good news of the gospel.

First : Repent of wrongdoing. Avoid self-righteousness in all its forms. Self-righteousness is the leaven of the Pharisees. No matter how faithful you may be in observing the Lenten practices, know that these works, though helpful, do not guarantee salvation. Faith, by which we are justified, is a gift, and its fruit is love. Avoid temptations such as anger, pride, jealousy, avarice, gluttony, lust, laziness, and mean-spiritedness. These are the things that make us unclean ( Matthew 15 : 18-20 ).

Second : Embrace the good news of the gospel which is love. Love is not only the goal, it is the means of achieving your goal. Spread the love of Christ everywhere around you this Lent : wherever you live, wherever you work, and with whomever you come into daily contact.

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe from the snares of temptation, and may He fill you with the joy of the gospel.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy