Reframing Lent as the Victory of Divine Love

Lent is the season to remember Jesus Christ’s passion and death.  We usually focus on His suffering, on how things have changed since He was welcomed with palms one Sunday, until that afternoon on Golgotha when He died on the cross. Many of us have grown up knowing that the Son of God was sent to die for our sins.

Last March 18, 2023, Saturday, Fr. Manoling Francisco S.J. gave Ateneo Grade School (AGS) families a Lenten Recollection that brought participants back to what is central to the season of Lent: divine love. The recollection was presented by the AGS and the Ateneo Grade School Parents Auxiliary Council (AGSPAC).

Fr. Manoling began his recollection with an overview of Jesus’ mission.  In Luke 4:43, Jesus says, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Fr. Manoling then elaborated on the following points:

God did not send Jesus to die on the cross.  He was sent to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus’ death was a result of Him being true to His mission. This revelation was so poignant, eye-opening and heart-wrenching at the same time.

Jesus Christ came to us as a teacher.  He was unlike all the other teachers at the time. It was intentional that He gathered disciples from simple folk. He made it a point to interact with sinners and outcasts in society. Why? These people were part of the Kingdom of God.  This kingdom is wherever God is at work in people.  And how does God do this? Through love.

The Bible illustrates how Jesus, on many occasions, raised the lowly and in turn brought the mighty low. In the story of the hemorrhaging woman, Jesus did not cast her out because of her illness. Similar to the man that was born blind, Jesus showed that personal tragedy and illness was not a punishment from God. When He forgave the woman caught in adultery, He questioned people’s righteousness when He declared, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7). Guided by divine love, Jesus was leading by example.

In summary, Fr. Manoling said that like Jesus, we should “get into trouble.”  It is not enough to just do good and avoid evil. We should do good and denounce evil.  We have an active part to play.  We should take up our cross and follow Him. Lent is not just about Jesus’ suffering and death.  His victory did not occur after He dies on the cross. Even throughout His suffering, it was all about His love for us. It has always been the triumph of love over evil.

Love proves victorious.