This week I would like to share with you extracts from the Pope’s message for Lent; The Hope of Lent

Lent is a favourable time for personal and community renewal, as it leads us to the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For our Lenten journey in 2022, we will do well to reflect on Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity (kairós), let us do good to all” (Galatians 6:9-10).

1. Sowing and reaping

Lent is certainly such an opportune time, but so is our entire existence, of which Lent is in some way an image. All too often in our lives, greed, pride and the desire to possess, accumulate and consume have the upper hand. Lent invites us to conversion,to a change in mindset, so that life’s truth and beauty may be found not so much in possessing as in giving, not so much in accumulating as in sowing and sharing goodness.

By making good use of the present time (cf. Ephesians 5:16), we too can sow seeds of goodness. A first fruit of the goodness we sow appears in ourselves and our daily lives, even in our little acts of kindness.

2. “Let us not grow tired of doing good”

Christ’s resurrection enlivens earthly hopes with the “great hope” of eternal life, planting the seed of salvation in our present time (cf. Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi, 3; 7). Bitter disappointment at shattered dreams, deep concern for the challenges ahead and discouragement at the poverty of our resources, can make us tempted to seek refuge in self-centredness and indifference to the suffering of others. Indeed, even our best resources have their limitations:

Let us not grow tired of praying. Jesus taught us to “pray always without becoming weary” (Luke 18:1). We need to pray because we need God. Thinking that we need nothing other than ourselves is a dangerous illusion. If the pandemic has heightened the awareness of our own personal and social fragility, may this Lent allow us to experience the consolation provided by faith in God, without whom we cannot stand firm (cf. Isaiah 7:9).

May the Virgin Mary, who bore the Saviour in her womb and “pondered all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19), obtain for us the gift of patience. May she accompany us with her maternal presence, so that this season of conversion may bring forth fruits of eternal salvation.

The Hope of Lent (extracts)

Pope’s message of Lent

With all that is happening around us at the moment the message of Hope and the true meaning of Lent is a timely reminder of our calling as a Catholic Community. In light of this we also offer a prayer for the people of Ukraine and keep in our prayers all those affected by the floods.

God Bless

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal