Lent is a time to ‘fix your life’, and ‘come closer to the Lord’: Pope

Vatican City, 18 March 2014: Lent is a time to "fix your life", and "to come closer to the Lord", said Pope Francis on Tuesday morning during Mass he celebrated in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. The Pope also warned against hypocrites who think they are "better than others."

Pope Francis began his reflection saying that “conversion” as the key word of Lent, a favourable time “to grow closer” to Jesus. Commenting on the First Reading, from the book of Isaiah, he said that the Lord calls two “sinful cities” like Sodom and Gomorrah to conversion. This shows us that we all “need to make a change of life,” to take a “good look into our soul” — where we always find something. The purpose of Lent, then, is precisely “to adjust my life,” to draw closer to the Lord. Jesus, the Pope said, wants to be close to us; He assures us the He is “waiting for us in order to forgive us.” However, he cautioned, the Lord wants “a sincere approach.”

Explaining the hypocrites, the Pope said that they make up and wear makeup, and feel more righteous than others. They despise others. This is hypocrisy. The Lord says, no one is right, and we all need to be justified. And the only one who justifies us is Jesus Christ.

For this reason, he said, we must approach the Lord: “In order not to be Christians in disguise, so that when the appearance passes, one can see the reality that they are not Christians.” What, then, is “the yardstick” to ensure that we are not hypocrites and that we are able to draw closer to the Lord?” The answer, the Pope said is that given us by the Lord in the First Reading: “Wash yourselves clean!” Purify yourself! “Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good.” This is the invitation. But, Pope Francis asked, “what is the sign that we are going along on a good path?”

‘Redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.’ Take care of the neighbour: the sick, the poor, the needy, the ignorant. This is the yardstick. The hypocrites do not know how to do this, they can’t, because they are so full of themselves that they are blind on account of watching others. When one walks a little bit and comes closer to the Lord, the light of the Lord makes him see these things and he goes to help the brothers. This is the sign, this is the sign of conversion.”

Of course, he said, “this is not the whole of conversion;” that, in fact, “is the encounter with Jesus Christ.” The “sign that we are with Jesus Christ is this: caring for the brothers and sisters, the poorest, the sick, as the Lord teaches us,” as we read in chapter 25 of the Gospel of St Matthew, explained Pope Francis.

"Lent is to adjust your life, fix your life, change your life, to get closer to the Lord. The hypocrite does not need the Lord, he thinks that he can save by himself, and disguises himself as a saint. The sign that we got closer to the Lord in repentance, asking for forgiveness, is that we care for needy brethren, concluded Pope Francis. Source: VR Sedoc