Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The mere mention of the word Lent will immediately turn ones thoughts to giving up something one really enjoys like a favorite desert such as ice cream, candy, cake, soda, or some other trivial item. While it may be beneficial in some ways to give up such items, it is not in the true spirit of Lent.

Lent begins a forty day journey that is intended for all of us to take a deeper look inside and find something that we do on a regular basis that offends God. In other words, some sinful habit and root it out. Many professing Christians may give up the items that I mentioned above but will not turn away from the works of the flesh such as gossip, jealousy, hatred, anger, selfish ambitions or lying just to mention a few. They will continue to walk in mortal sin but believe they are pleasing God by abstaining from some trivial item.

We need to remember that after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John, he set off on a forty day journey into the wilderness where he stayed among the wild beasts and was tempted by the devil. We all have our wild beasts that we must contend with in life. That beast may come in the form of a person or some sinful habit that the devil uses in an attempt to destroy our relationship with God. If we use this Lenten season to concentrate on dealing with that person, place, or thing, and learn to rely upon the Holy Spirit for strength, we too will emerge victorious from the wilderness.

When he emerged from the wilderness he went to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15).

May the Peace of Christ Be With You