By Grace We Are Saved Through Faith

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16) is the key message in this Sunday’s Gospel reading. In the Lenten season, the Passion of Christ is a stark reminder of God’s love for us. Christ died on the Cross for our salvation. St. Paul told us in the Second Reading that it is “by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8) and that we who believe are “created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Lent is a good time for us to reflect on the way we live. Are we living according to the teaching of Jesus and of His Church?

For those of us who profess to follow Jesus, we must not let worldly pleasures, successes and material things distract us from our gift of faith. This can be difficult at times and it is easy for us to lose focus on eternal life, especially when we live in a relatively affluent society where we have to make an effort to not let ourselves be immersed in consumerism. The throw-away culture in which all is disposable is corroding our society. Even life itself has become disposable. Abortion and assisted suicide are legalized in our society. The aged and the sick are perceived by many people as a burden. They are seen as commodities reaching the end of their ‘shelf lives’. Humans are degraded to become mere things, to be used and disposed of at will. The world around us is embracing the culture of death.

The Church’s invitation for us to spent Lent prayerfully through venerating the Way of the Cross and taking part in retreats is a reminder for us to live responsibly according to the teaching of Jesus and His Church that proclaims a culture of life and promises eternal life. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation that the Church encourages us to receive during Lent, through the mandated fasting and abstinence, our hearts will be softened, our minds and spirits strengthened and our whole being invigorated and prepared so that we will not lose sight and hope of the eternal life that is to come.

St. Paul told us that we who believe are “created in Christ Jesus for good works”. As we re-live the Passion of Christ in Lent, let us respond to His love and sacrifice for us by making a special effort for good works. An act of kindness from each one of us may collectively contribute towards saving a baby from being aborted. Accompanying a family member, relative, friend or neighbor stricken with a devastating illness with tender love and care may enable them to find meaning in their suffering instead of harboring the thought of taking their own lives. No good works are too trivial to do, for Jesus told us in this Sunday’s Gospel reading that “those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (John 3:21)