“But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” (Luke 13:5).  

The major theme for this 3rd Sunday of Lent focuses on God’s self-revelation as true love, compassionate and mercy, who has heard the cry of the poor, witnessed the reality of our misery, wanting to rescue us from the sinful circumstances, guiding us to the Promised Land that is full of eternal happiness, joy and peace.

Although God’s love for us is constant and consistent, God will not save us without our cooperation and repentance. Therefore, God invites us in this Lent: (1) to repent our sins (2) to renew our lives and (3) to produce fruits of love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy and faithful service.

To repent is to turn around and go back to God, to acknowledge and let go of our sinful pride, selfish desire and misdeeds, to put God in the center of our mind, soul, heart and life, to repair our relationship with God, to deepen our confidence, trust, faith in Him, to amend our lives, and to improve our relationship with our neighbors by participating in the works of mercy.

Many times, our Lenten penitential amendment requires our personal sacrifices and mortifications, to correct and hopefully to diminish or eliminate our sinfulness and vices, to increase our practice of virtuous works of mercy, to produce greater glory of God. With our sacrificial mortification and penance, we elevate ourselves to God, unite intimately with Christ, will experience the glory of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.

This task is urgent and necessary for us to achieve eternal life. The time is now for life is short. We need to seize the day to act now and to use this opportunity with the Lenten season to improve our spiritual life to achieve our goal, eternal happiness and complete peace with God.    

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s readings invite us to repent and reform our lives now and not to abuse the mercy of God who demands us to produce good fruits.

How can we repent our sins, amend our lives in this Lent? 

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.