As we enter this season of Lent, I wish to implore us to see it as another opportunity, not just as another Lenten season. It is possible that many older Catholics, who are just counting the liturgical seasons, may see this Lenten season as yet another Lenten season like the ones they had last year and years before. This will not enable them to reap the fruits of the season.
Though the season is familiar, we must approach it and live it with new minds and expectations. This is because the grace and mercy of God are “new every morning” (Lam. 3:22-23). So, He has designed this Lenten season as a new and different encounter. And in this encounter, much depends on our disposition. We know that every encounter with Jesus brings about a positive result. We will recall the encounter of the first disciples of Jesus in Jn. 1:35-51; Zacchaeus in Lk. 19:1-10; the two blind men in Matt. 20:29-34; the Canaanite woman in Matt. 15;21- 28; the paralytic in Mk. 2:1-12; the demoniacs in Lk. 8:26-39; the ten lepers in Lk. 17:11-19.
All of these and other encounters with Jesus always bring about a change, a positive change and a better life. A good disposition towards this Lenten season will bring us this encounter that will definitely yield fruitful spiritual growth and abundant blessing.
• Most Rev.(Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins is the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
