made himself equal with God, calling God his own Father. Jesus said to them, “Truly, I assure
you, the Son cannot do anything by himself, but only what he sees the Father do. And whatever
he does, the Son also does. The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does; and
he will show him even greater things than these, so that you will be amazed. As the Father raises
the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom he wills. Whoever ignores the Son,
ignores as well the Father who sent him. Truly, the hour is coming and has indeed come, when
the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and, on hearing it, will live. For the Father has life
in himself, and he has given to the Son also to have life in himself. And he has empowered him
as well to carry out Judgment, for he is Son of Man.
Reflect
People can have a very negative perception of Lent, focusing on sin and treating penance as a
punishment. But today’s first reading offers a much more positive perspective.
Lent is “a favorable time.” It is very easy to put off the things we need to do be they household
chores or more substantial life changes. (I am a champion procrastinator.) Having a season
dedicated to a specific effort makes it far more likely to happen. Lent gives up the necessary
space to reflect on our lives, to identify the changes needed to bring us closer to God, and,
guided by God’s grace, to take the first steps on that path of conversion.
Today’s readings make clear that the ultimate goal of penance is not punishment but restoration.
The penance of Lent (in fact, all penance) helps to restore broken relationships with our brothers
and sisters and with God. As sin creates breaks in those relationships, penance is the glue that helps
to repair them. Lent is not a chore or a punishment, but a favorable time of healing
and restoration.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023