12. Christ gave himself for us

12. Christ Gave Himself For Us The season of Lent invites us to repent and encounter the Kingdom of God Compendium 106-111 Mark 1: 12-15 1. Lent is a time of renewal. We ask for the grace to strengthen our prayer life, practice fasting and to mortify our senses and give generously of ourselves to those in need and to participate more deeply in Christ's sacrifice of love and the sacraments of confession and communion. 2. On Ash Wednesday we receive an invitation to repent and remember that this life is short and without God we are nothing. 3. For some, Lent is a time for preparation for entrance into the Church. 4. Mostly, Lent is about recovering our Baptismal innocence and victory over temptation. 5. We read about Christ's struggle with Satan in the desert over power, wealth and self-indulgence which reminds us of Adam and Eve's encounter with Satan and Israel's struggle in the desert. 6. The Transfiguration on Mount Tabor in the presence of Peter, John and James foretells the changing of our lowly bodies into his glorious body. 7. Moses and Elijah are there because Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets. 8. In the Sunday readings Jesus invites the Samaritan women at the well to repent. 9. The man born blind emphasizes our need for the light of Christ in our lives. 10. Lazarus is brought back from death. This signifies that we also will be brought back from death to eternal life. Death is no longer a permanent tragedy. 11. The prodigal son returns. God’s mercy and forgiveness is infinite and always pursuing sinners. 12. The woman trapped in adultery is freed. No sin is greater than God’s mercy. He purifies even the most grievous sins. 13. Nicodemos reaches out to Jesus in secret. God waits for us on our terms. 14. The miracles announce the Good News that Love conquers sin and Jesus has vanquished Satan. 15. Peter will confess Jesus is the Son of the Living God and yet deny him. 16.The Messiah-King enters the New Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He will come again. 17. We sit at table with Jesus on Holy Thursday as he gives us himself as food for our journey 18. We stand with Mary and John at the foot of the cross on Good Friday and keep vigil on Holy Saturday as we await the Light of Christ. 19. We must become excited about our faith. We must admire the enthusiasm of people of other faiths who are not ashamed to profess and proclaim their faith. But we must realize that we have so much more and must unashamedly profess and proclaim our faith because the world is languishing without it. Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking it is ecumenical to downplay our faith while applauding others. This is false ecumenism. The truth will not only set us free but also liberate others from partial truths. We can courageously proclaim Jesus with the simple sign of the cross on our forehead anytime and especially at meals and even in public without seeking attention but as a reminder and thanksgiving for all he does for us. 20. Often in the past, and even today, religion has been violently forced on people and alternately violently denied to people. This is not the will of God but rather the impatient fanaticism, ignorance and arrogance of a few. Everyone has free will and can deny and even denigrate God. God does not need us to defend him but we should use our free will to proclaim the truth that God is Love, otherwise we become complicit in denying him to the eternal peril of souls including our own.