Lent is the Church season when those preparing for baptism (our catechumens) and those preparing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church (our candidates) begin their immediate preparation for the Easter sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.  For those of us already baptized, Lent is a time of renewal, a time to examine our relationships with God, one another, and ourselves.

            Today’s readings teach that sin means breaking a covenant or relationship.  The Genesis reading tells of Adam’s sin.  God created the world in goodness, yet through human freedom our first parents broke their relationship with the creator.  The second reading from Romans reminds us that just as sin entered the world through the actions of one person, now salvation has come into the world through the action of Jesus Christ.  God's gracious love is more than sufficient to overcome the pain and power of sin.  In the gospel Jesus confronted Satan with scripture and prayer.  When we face temptation, scripture, prayer, and the sacraments of the Church put us in contact with Christ’s healing and forgiving love.

            There are two common reactions when we speak of sin today.  Some people have so minimized their thinking about sin that they say, "I haven't killed anyone, so I don't need reconciliation."  This kind of thinking is a refusal to honestly look at our relationships.  God has called us to be loving persons who manifest his love and joy in this world.  Am I really living out that challenge?  My sin may not be in what I have done as much as in my attitudes toward others and even toward myself.  Am I living out the challenge of Jesus to be perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect?  God is bountiful in mercy and forgiveness, but we must first acknowledge our need for forgiveness.

            Some others may react with overwhelming guilt.  They have lost the hope of forgiveness.  Some are plagued with habitual or addictive sins.  Time after time they have resolved to overcome this or that sin and been unable to do so.  They mistakenly rely on their own power to defeat sin in their lives.  Without Christ we can do nothing to overcome sin.  We need the power of our Savior in order to be freed from the bondage of sin. 

            The season of Lent is an opportunity to examine the relationships in our lives and to experience God's healing power.  Let us seize this moment with prayer, fasting, works of charity, and reconciliation. 

Once again this Lent the little black Lenten booklets are available for adults and children.  They present scriptural passages and reflections to get us thinking about our Lenten journey with the Lord.  Please be sure that everyone who can benefit gets one of these booklets.