Pope Francis has called upon us in his Lenten message to embrace true poverty by “imitating Christ who became poor and enriched us by his poverty.” True poverty based on selflessness and self-denial, “frees us to help and enrich others.”
This poverty is not destitution which “is poverty without faith, without support, without hope.” As disciples we are called to imitate Christ by reaching out to those suffering material, moral and spiritual destitution.
Let this be our challenge this Lent, self-denial, of course, but also self-giving, binding the wounds of others with the mercy and compassion of Jesus. “By loving and helping the poor we love and serve Christ.”
We are called to “rend our hearts” by the Hebrew Scriptures (Joel 2:13). Over the Sundays in Lent, my blog will be short reflections on the psalms of the season in preparation for Holy Week and Easter.
I pray that our Lenten journey will be fruitful and compassionate.
Image Credit: “Penance” – by Sarah (Rosenau) Korf on Flickr
This post is also available in/Esta entrada también está disponible en: Spanish