Sundays readings remind us of who formed us, who loves us and who makes us whole
by Sister Mary Kabat
Today the holy season of Lent begins! What are you thinking: Already! Don’t have time for this! I never like Lent! All we are going to hear about is “sin.”
Whether you dread Lent or appreciate this time of the Church year, I suggest that this Sunday we begin at the end. At the end of the Gospel in which Jesus is tempted by the devil he says:
“The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.”
There is our theme for Lent and our guide for inner reflection and our measure to hold up alongside our current living and the path for our whole life!
Yes, in the second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans you will hear the word “sin” or its variations over and over but listen also for the word “gift.” Sin brought the gift of Jesus overflowing to all; sin brought an abundance of grace; sin brought the offer to life. Who would know the opposites of dark and light, death and life, sin and redemption better than Saul, now St. Paul?
Since I started at the end, I would like to end at the beginning. In the first reading from Genesis we hear, “God blew into man’s nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” May these holy days bring you refreshing breath, abundance of grace and newness of life with eyes not just open to sin like Adam and Eve but open to our loving, abundant, inviting God like St. Paul and Jesus.
Very inspiring. Love the idea that during this Lenten Season God breathes life within us.