Embracing the Father’s Mercy During Lent
Lent is not just a temporary season. It is an invitation to open our hearts fully to God’s grace and mercy. It is a time for spiritual renewal, where every moment—especially during the celebration of the Eucharist—provides us with a chance to reorganize our lives and align ourselves more closely with God’s will.
Each Mass is an opportunity to reflect on the profound truth that "what was lost is found, and what was dead is risen again." Through the Eucharist, we experience God’s invitation to return to Him, to be restored and made whole. As we approach this sacred time, we echo the prayer of the prodigal son: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.”
The Struggles of Shame and Vulnerability
Lent challenges us to confront the shame and vulnerability that often accompany our guilt. Many of us carry the weight of bad actions and behaviors from our past, feeling unworthy of God’s love because of the mistakes we've made. But shame is not just about our actions; it’s about our identity. It leads us to ask, "Am I still worthy of the Father's love?" In these moments, we can be tempted to believe that we no longer deserve to be called sons and daughters of the Father.
But the story of Lent reminds us that, despite our past, we are always worthy of God’s love and mercy. This truth is embodied in the encounter between Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. The crowd wanted to condemn her, but Jesus did not condemn her. He didn’t excuse her sins, but He offered her mercy: “Go and sin no more.” In that moment, Jesus became the face of the Father’s mercy, showing us the depth of God’s love.
Mercy and New Life in Christ
We are beloved sons and daughters of the Father, not because of our perfection but because of His mercy. Jesus’ call to "sin no more" invites us to embrace the new life He offers us—one not defined by our past actions but by His grace. Sin may shape us, but it does not define us. Our true identity is found in God’s love for us, and Lent calls us to let go of everything that hinders us from embracing this truth.
The season of Lent is not just about penance; it’s about receiving the gift of mercy. It’s an invitation to experience the new life that God has promised. We are called to lay down our old identity—shaped by guilt and shame—and take up our true identity as children of God. This transformation doesn’t happen all at once, but through small, daily steps of openness to God’s mercy.
*Sharing the Father’s Mercy with Others*
As we reflect on God's mercy in our own lives, we must also ask ourselves: What are we doing to share the Father’s mercy with those around us? Lent is a time to imitate the mercy we receive from God and extend it to others. Many people are struggling to know who they are and how they fit into God’s plan. As followers of Christ, we are called to be the face of God’s mercy to the world.
In a world that often promotes judgment and division, Lent invites us to become ambassadors of love and forgiveness. We are called to love and forgive unconditionally, just as God has loved and forgiven us. As we enter deeper into this season of Lent, let us do everything in our power to share God’s mercy with everyone we encounter.
Conclusion
Lent is all about the Father’s mercy—the mercy that restores, heals, and transforms. Let us not get stuck in the sins of our past, but instead embrace the new life that God is offering us. Let us open ourselves to His grace and become, in turn, the face of His mercy in the world. In doing so, we not only experience God’s love more fully but also become instruments of His love to others, reflecting the boundless mercy that has been given to us.
