In our Gospel Acclamation for this morning, we hear a verse from the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord speaking through him: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.” The season of Lent is a time for us to reflect on the need for conversion in our lives. We know that this is a time of repentance, and renewal. It invites us to journey inward, to examine the state of our souls, and to seek reconciliation with God and with one another.

Conversion isn’t a one-time event…it’s an ongoing process, a continual turning of our hearts toward God. It is a journey of transformation, a turning away from sin and a turning towards the abundant grace and mercy of the Father. Lent provides us with that unique opportunity to deepen our relationship with God, to realign our priorities, and to cultivate a spirit of humility and contrition.

That need for conversion is rooted in the recognition of our humanity, a recognition that we can’t do this on our own. We are always going to be drawn toward sin, that’s part of the human condition. Especially when you throw into the mix how each of us carries within us the burden of our own brokenness, acknowledging the ways that we have fallen short of God’s perfect will. Lent calls us to take an honest look at our shortcomings, to acknowledge our need for forgiveness, and to embrace God’s life-giving and redeeming love.

As I have already said at least twice in homilies over the last 3 days…let’s take this Lenten season seriously; let’s make it our best yet. May it be a time of spiritual renewal for us. Use it to allow the Lord to recreate us into the people that He created us to be. The Lord is offering us an invitation to experience the freedom and joy that come from living in relationship with Him. Let’s embrace it!

As we continue throughout this season, may we open our hearts to the transforming power of God’s grace in our lives, trusting that He is walking alongside us, leading us to a conversion of heart so that we may become instruments of His love and peace in the world.

Image: Seeking the one who is higher than us. Photo by Cherry Laithang. Used under the Unsplash license.