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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“Reconciliamini Deo ” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
I am not sure if Pope Francis got his idea for the theme of his Lenten message for this year from my episcopal motto, but he has certainly made my task of writing my own message to you much easier! After much prayer and thought, I chose the phrase that Saint Paul used in his Second Letter to the Corinthians — “Be reconciled to God” — as the motto for my episcopal service. It was a phrase that kept coming back to me in the Year of Mercy in which I was ordained your bishop. It is an encouragement that really sums up the season of Lent, doesn’t it? We are called to return to God with our whole hearts and assist others in doing so as well.
On Ash Wednesday, we were invited to approach the altar to have a cross traced on our foreheads as a mark of our repentance. We were encouraged to begin anew on the road of conversion, recalling our baptismal promises by once again taking up more fully the penitential practices highlighted in our Gospel for that day: those acts of fasting, almsgiving, and more frequent prayer, which all hopefully will help us to keep our focus more on Christ.
In his Lenten message, Pope Francis wrote that we are to be reconciled to God by keeping our gaze on Christ, especially on His wounds while hanging on the Cross. Reflecting on Jesus’ wounds and His arms outstretched for us, helps us to know and experience more fully God’s Mercy. It also helps us to be sensitive to the wounds of others, and how we can be merciful to them, helping others in need, one of the marks of Lent, almsgiving.
Let’s not let this moment of grace pass us by. Generously, we should strive to take up the Pope’s call and focus more on Christ this Lent, drawing ourselves closer to Him who loves us. Think of something you can do to move your hearts closer to Christ during this holy season of grace: perhaps by more engaged participation in Sunday Mass, taking a few extra minutes for prayer each day, looking daily at the crucifix and seeing God offering Himself for us, so that we could be reconciled to the Father. May this Lenten season renew our utter dependence on God so that we might strive more perfectly and faithfully, to “repent and believe in the Gospel.”
This Lent, I pray that we may truly “be reconciled to God” and that He may use us to be instruments of reconciliation with one another. Blessed Lent everyone! Know of my prayers and love for you, and please pray for me, too.
The Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
Bishop of Metuchen