Lent - Season of Preparation

[Photograph Saint Paul's Outside the Walls - ROME - Nov 2007]
Motorola RAZR

LENT like Advent is a season of preparation. Its austerity motivated by our sorrow for sin is tempered by the joy we experience as people who have been redeemed by the passion death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Lent puts before us the whole mystery of salvation through which God's merciful love has been revealed in Jesus Christ. 'God loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy: when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ-it is through grace that you have been saved -and raised us up with him and gave us a place with him in heaven, in Christ Jesus. This was no show for all ages to come, through his goodness towards us in Christ Jesus, how infinitely rich he is in grace. Because it grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anywhing of your own, but by a gift from God; not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit. We are God's work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it. [Ephesians 2:4]