lenten message

Bishop Loverde's Lenten Letter

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 2/7/02)

Feb. 5, 2002

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus,

On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13, we begin the season of Lent, our annual 40-day retreat as members of the Body of Christ, His Church. Every year, prior to Lent, our Holy Father sends us a message. The theme he has chosen for this year’s Lenten Message is: "You have received without paying, give without pay." This theme frames my Lenten letter to each of you.

We have indeed received without paying the gift of God’s faithful love. God’s love for us is beyond all imagining. "… God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may not die, but have eternal life" (Jn 3: 16). And to show the infinite depth of divine love and to win for us the gift of eternal life, Jesus Christ freely gave Himself up to death on the cross and was raised to new and unending life on the third day.

We need to grow in our awareness of God’s faithful love. "May Lent, recalling the mystery of the Lord’s Death and Resurrection, lead all Christians to marvel in their heart of hearts at the greatness of such a gift" (Pope John Paul II, 2002 Lenten Message, n. 2). Our awareness deepens through prayer, both personal and liturgical. We understand more deeply the love of God as we reflect on His Word in the Scriptures, relive the mysteries of His life and that of His Mother Mary in the Rosary and trace His footsteps to death and resurrection in the Stations of the Cross. This love of God forgives and heals us as we confess our sins to Christ and to the Church in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We are uniquely embraced by God’s love as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, both Sacrament and Sacrifice.

"You have received without paying, give without pay." Since we have received God’s saving love freely, without paying, we in turn must pass on this gift to others. However, we need to become free enough to do this with gratitude and generosity. We are made free through penance and self-denial. The more we put to death our selfishness and self-will, the more able we become to give freely the gift of love given us.

More deeply aware of God’s love freely given to us and made free enough to pass on this gift, we are able to love others, especially the most in need, through works of charity or almsgiving. "Let this be how we prepare to live this Lent: in practical generosity towards the poorest of our brothers and sisters! By opening our hearts to them, we realize ever more deeply that what we give to others is our response to the many gifts which the Lord continues to give us. We have received without paying, let us give without pay" (Pope John Paul II, 2002 Lenten Message, n. 5).

During our Lenten retreat, may each of us grow in our awareness of God’s love revealed in Christ Jesus and in our willingness to witness to this love by a holy life, marked by acts of authentic charity. "In the very love God has for us, there lies the call to give ourselves freely to others in turn" (Ibid: n. 5).

One with you this Lent in prayer, penance and almsgiving, I remain

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde

Bishop of Arlington

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