In connection with the observance of the Lenten Season we are urged to enjoin to participate in Spiritual retreats and/or recollections of our parish. If you feel that your parish recollection is not enough, here is additional message of Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao for this Lent.

When the Season of Lent comes, people have different reactions. Since it is often associated with passion, death and resurrection of Christ with sacrifice and penance, people often ask “What can I give up this season of Lent?” And yet, we should explore what areas of our life would need improvement, a more committed way of living our faith. In other words, we should be more positive to the needs and feelings of others.

Lent comes from an old English word which means “springtime.

” Spring is a time when plants start to have leaves and later on flowers. In our environment, we see many changes. Likewise in our spiritual journey with Jesus. We prepare ourselves for a more faithful and meaningful share in the paschal mystery of Jesus - His passion, death and resurrection - through acts of prayer, fasting and the performance of good works.

Secondly, Lent is also a time of appreciating how much God loves us. Although we have sinned and continue to sin. His love is everlasting. His love does not change. He loves us unconditionally. It is this love that motivates us to seek for inner transformation through conversion. His grace empowers us to purify ourselves throughout this season so that His image in us can come to perfection. We seek to know more personally this amazing God.

All of us were born to live but Jesus was the only one who was born to die, that we may be saved.. that we may receive forgiveness for all our sins. Indeed, our God is an amazing God … a God who empties Himself to fill up what is lacking in us … a God who gives without counting the cost, a God who gives Himself today until the end so that we could have everything that we need. All the events in Christ’s life are seen in the light of His death and resurrection. His Passover for our passage from death to life, from slavery of sin to lead us to freedom God wants us to enjoy as His children.

In uttering the words while Jesus was dying on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” we get the impression that this is the cry of someone who seemed to be abandoned by God, someone whose petition or prayer was not heard. His cry expresses his feeling of emptiness, rejection, deprivation, aloneness and no sense of meaning.

Have a peaceful and fruitful Lenten Season to all. - Ted Sandoval

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