Renewing Love: The Lenten period is a favorable time of renewal. Renewal is not merely with regard to the small sacrifices we make; it encompasses our entire life and being. We are called during lent to reconsider our relationship with God and neighbor.
Needed Renewal
This renewal of life goes through the renewal of our faith, hope and charity, because they are foundational to our life. The liturgical readings during Lent helps us to achieve that, by painting a picture of the life and passion of Jesus, who burns with love for all humanity on the wood of the cross and who through his resurrection gives us new and eternal life.
The Gospel presents us an aspect of the life of Jesus, precisely his teaching ministry. While acknowledging that the pharisees and teachers of the law are experts in the law of Moses, Jesus advises the crowds and the disciples to obey their teachings but not to follow their examples, because they do not practice what they preach. They lack compassion. This compassion is important for Jesus, because he came that we may have life and have it in abundance. (cf. John 10:10). He was, for instance, against the stoning of the woman caught in adultery (John 8: 1-11) because it is contrary to his message. There is thus need for the Pharisees and the Scribes to identify with the message they preach. It could be that this lack of compassion developed with time as a result of lack of reflection or lack of the desire for renewal.
It could also be that our love is also weakened or our passion for God is extinguished due to certain circumstances or because we are caught unknowingly by the clutches of consumerism, the snares of wanting more, of never being satisfied with what we have or of unconsciously being indifferent to the needs of others. The Lenten period becomes therefore an opportune moment, which helps us reflect on the path we are taking and why we are doing so.
Renewing Our Motives
Lent is not only a time to reconsider which direction our heart is driven, but also a moment to reflect upon why we are doing what we are doing. It could be that we perform some kind acts to gain the admiration or esteem of others. Outward displays, human judgments, and the world’s approval mattered much for the Pharisees and Scribes. That is why they wear scriptural verses on their foreheads and arms, flaunting their piety. Renewing our minds implies making use of this Lenten period to realize that God ought to be the center of our lives and that what we do, ought to arise from pure love for him.
The good news is that the Lenten period is a time of grace. Thus, it can help us to prioritize love and mercy over empty ritual and outward display of piety. From the criticism of Jesus today, we realize that it is not an excuse to do the wrong thing (for instance lack of compassion) simply because my pastor, teacher, parents, or role model is doing the wrong thing. Lent is a season not to be discouraged because of what those in authority are doing, and a time to focus on ourselves, and struggle to grow in love of God and in the understanding that we are brothers and sisters.
