Have you been perfectly faithful to your Lenten promises this year?

Yeah, me neither.

That’s really the lesson of Lent—We can’t do this by ourselves. Whether we gave up coffee, gossip, alcohol, or wrathful anger, our mess-ups during Lent are a reminder that we are not our own personal savior. We actually do need the graces that Jesus poured upon us on by shedding his own blood on that fateful Friday afternoon over 2,000 years ago.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to the Pharisees, “The one who sent me is with me. …He has not left me alone,” (Jn 8:28-29). We can be assured that God will not leave us alone in our weakness. He is edified and pleased by our efforts to live a good Lent. And even when we don’t do as well as we would have liked, it is not a reason to beat ourselves up. Our failures are a reason to throw ourselves at the bottom of the Cross with tears of joy and thanksgiving.

God has not left us alone.

All of salvation history is evidence that we have a God who will not leave us alone. As long as we are humble and turn to God in repentance, he showers us with his graces and love. So the next time you fail, whether it’s in your Lenten promise or something else, don’t turn away from God in shame. Grace is not found by turning away from God. Instead, turn to him in love and ask him to help you do better.

God will not leave you alone.

Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSP, is the author of The Prodigal You Love: Inviting Loved Ones Back to the Church.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Dear God in the name of the Lord Jesus please give me strength to carry on with the mission the Lord has giving me, and that I can receive the qualities that will bring glory to Your Name.. Thank you..

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