I’m very grateful to Mark G, for providing the Monday reflections during the period I was on vacation. It is always a blessing and a privilege to serve others through the proclamation of the Word of God. Mark G, thank you!
We are at the threshold of the Lenten season. In today’s first reading, we are told to “repent from sin while you are still alive. The dead cannot praise God.” Sirach 17:20-24
The Almighty God knows everything in the hearts and minds of all of His people, and nothing can truly be hidden from Him, no matter what.
God is always faithful. He loves and reward all those who have been faithful to Him with great grace and blessings. He has always been willing to welcome back everyone who commit themselves to the path of repentance and reconciliation.
At the same time, the prophet Sirach also gave a gentle warning from the Lord to the people that if they misbehaved and continued on their path of disobedience and rebellion against Him, then all of their misdeeds and wickedness would also be held against them. We should not be so stubborn even to the extent of closing our hearts and minds against God’s call and His love.
We should be thankful that God has always loved us. He is willing to forgive us our many sins and trespasses if we truly can commit ourselves to the path of repentance, turning ourselves from the darkness of sin and evil into the path of God’s light and truth.
We may have heard about similar instructions from the Book of Joel (2: 12-15) “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Like the rich man in today’s Gospel passage who came up to Jesus requesting what he needed to do in order to attain eternal life, Jesus invites us to obey the Law and commandments of God. If you want to do more, Jesus said, leave behind the great wealth and possessions so that he might follow Him wholeheartedly and becoming His disciple. And as we heard, the rich man left the Lord with great sorrow.
Like the rich man, we all want eternal life. The season of Lent is a wonderful opportunity for us to asked ourselves- What is important in life? We are invited to reevaluate our way of life and actions.
Are you losing sight on the true destination of your lives, that is the Lord and His salvation?
Are we easily swayed by the allures of worldly desires and ambitions?
Are we misled by the many temptations of glory, pleasures, and power?
May we have the insight and grace to walk the path of righteousness and virtue in God.
Let’s re-orientate our lives to focus upon God once again.
Have a wonderful week.
