My dear friends, it must be said that the whole exercise of lent is to bring about interior conversion. Our prayers, fasting and almsgiving during lent dwell and move us to conversion, move us to love the more. Conversion “is putting God in first place. And inquiring about God’s words, so as to allow them as realities to shine into one’s own life” (Pope Benedict XVI, Light of the World). It is a change of lifestyle; turning away from wrong doings and turning to God; turning away from loveless living to a loving one. The project each of us must hope to accomplish in this season is our interior conversion.
We will hear this call regularly in the readings of the season. It is a call from God to all of us to return to Him. He is ‘’The Father of all mercies and God of all Comfort” (John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia No. 1). If only we will open our hearts in this season, the Lord can bring about our conversion and give us a new life of love. Finally, for those of us who are already making attempts to love, we must not fail to deepen such love for God in this season. St. Paul puts it well in his letter to the Romans.
He addresses all of us in these words: “Owe nothing to anyone except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbour, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law (Rom. 13:8).” May the love of God always reign in our hearts (Amen). Have a fruitful Lenten season and may God bless you. Amen
• Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
