Lenten Reflections

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By Anna Gaby ’25

While looking through today’s readings, I was surprised by the beginning of the first reading which says, “Come, let us return to the Lord. It is He who has rent, but He will heal us; He has struck us, but He will bind our wounds.” It is interesting to think of being hurt or struck by God. We associate God with everything that is good; not that which hurts us. However, God often sends us trials and asks us to carry a cross like He did. Just as Jesus humbled himself and took up his cross, so can we. God does not give us more than we can handle. If we ask, He will help us carry our crosses, but we have to be humble enough to ask.

In today’s Gospel, we hear the parable of two men, a Pharisee and a tax collector, who went to the temple area to pray. The Pharisee was convinced of his own righteousness, and thanked God that he was not like the rest of humanity. The tax collector kept his head bowed and prayed, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” The tax collector, despite his sinful ways, did what the noble Pharisee failed to do, and humbled himself before God. Jesus said, “Everyone who exults himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exulted.” Lent places a special focus on the importance of repentance, and repentance requires humility to see the ways in which we, like the Pharisee, exult ourselves, so that we can ask for forgiveness and change our ways. During this Lenten season, let us look inwards, humble ourselves, repent, and be willing to ask God for help.