March 5, 2025: Lent, a Season to Return to God

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Today, we gather at the threshold of Lent, a season of grace and renewal. The ashes we receive on our foreheads are not merely a ritual but a profound sign of our need for repentance and our longing for God’s mercy. The prophet Joel calls out to us in the first reading: "Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning." (Joel 2:12) This is a call not just to an outward observance but to an interior conversion, a transformation of the heart.

A wise old monk once told a young novice struggling with his spiritual life, "If you wish to fill a jar with fresh water, you must first empty it of all impurities." Lent is our time to empty ourselves of all that distances us from God. It is a time to renew our relationship with Him, to cleanse our hearts through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, as Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18).

Many years ago, I met a man who had drifted far from the Church. He was successful, wealthy, but restless. One Ash Wednesday, he came to Mass, received ashes, and heard these words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." That moment struck him deeply. He later shared with me that those words made him reflect on what truly mattered in life. Was he living for God, or merely for himself? That Lent, he made a sincere confession, reconnected with his faith, and found a peace he had not known for years. Lent changed his life because he embraced its call to conversion.

St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, urges us: "Be reconciled to God… Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!" (2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2). Lent is not a time to postpone our return to God but to seize the moment. God’s mercy is waiting for us, but He also asks for our response.

How, then, can we make this Lent fruitful? Jesus gives us the key: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

  • Prayer deepens our relationship with God. Let us make time for silence, for Scripture, for heartfelt conversation with the Lord.

  • Fasting is not just about giving up food but about detaching from anything that controls us—be it anger, addiction, or selfishness. Let us fast from sin and feast on virtue.

  • Almsgiving calls us to charity, reminding us that true fasting leads to love. Perhaps we can visit the sick, help the poor, or simply be more patient and kind.

As the ashes are placed on our foreheads today, let us remember: Lent is not about appearing holy, but about becoming holy. It is about real change, about walking more closely with Christ.

May this holy season lead us to a deeper love for God and a renewed spirit, so that when we arrive at Easter, we may truly rise with Christ. Amen.

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