April 6: The Day of the Lord

At the heart of the Fifth Sunday of Lent, at least in the Scriptures we hear and the Eucharist which we celebrate today, are these things: reminders of God’s readiness to forgive our sins, encouragement that God gives all sinners a second chance, an opportunity for healing broken lives, and the chance for all of us to be restored to God’s friendship. Wow! That’s a lot to pack into one day, let alone one hour at Mass!

This Fifth Sunday of Lent challenges us to show the same mercy which we have received to the sinners around us. It also challenges us to live as “forgiven people,” actively seeking reconciliation with God and one another. On the first Sunday after he became Pope, our Holy Father Francis preached: “God never grows tired of forgiving us… It is we who grow tired of asking for forgiveness.” Then he prayed, “May we never grow tired of asking for what God never tires to give!”

***

Although we are deep into the Lenten season and next Sunday will be Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week, it is not too late to open our hearts and minds to the truth of Jesus’ teachings. It is not too late to stop judging other people. It is not too late to hope for mercy – because we all need it so badly and God is constantly at the ready to give it.