If people lived with the fear of God, dear heavenly Father, things on this earth would look very different. Everyone would first consider whether their actions align with Your will. That alone would be wonderful. They would also be careful not to harm their neighbor, who, like them, is called to live as a child of God. All Your commandments would be alive within them, as well as the words handed down to us by the Lord, His apostles, and later the Church as the teacher of the nations. The earth would truly be different, and the Kingdom of God could spread. Those in positions of power and responsibility would be especially vigilant, always seeking Your counsel and the counsel of those who fear and love You.
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Day 21: “Willingness to Forgive”
After the short series on the transformation of the heart, we return to the readings of the day. This year, we are following the traditional lectionary in our Lenten itinerary. But before getting into the subject, I would like to share with you an intention that is close to my heart. It is a prayer I have written to ask the Lord for the true peace that comes from Him. I would be grateful if many of those who listen to my daily meditations would join us in this simple prayer:
“Beloved Father, we ask You for the peace that flows from Your Heart to touch and transform the hearts of men, so that Your Kingdom may spread throughout the Earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
From today’s biblical texts, I would like to focus on a brief but very significant passage from the Gospel (Mt 18:15–35). It reads as follows:
THE LORD FORGIVES WILLINGLY
Beloved Father, through the forgiveness You offer through Your Son Jesus Christ, how You lighten the burdens weighing on nations and individuals, if only they come to You!
How heavy are the burdens that people sometimes carry, to the point that they can hardly move freely! How crushing are the sins that have not been forgiven—how they mark a person’s being and bend them over, even seeking to enslave them forever! Even if they do not realize it or do not want to admit it, their vision is clouded and they hide from You, just as our first parents hid from Your gaze after they had sinned (cf. Gen 3:8).
Day 20: “The Transformation of the Heart” (Part III)
This short series, which aims to show us the importance of the conversion of the heart, must also be understood in a supra‑personal dimension. This means that our efforts to attain a pure heart not only serve our personal sanctification, but are also a weapon in spiritual combat. St. Paul makes it clear that our struggle is against “the principalities, against the powers (…), against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12) They take advantage of our evil human inclinations and reinforce them. Once our hearts have been darkened, it becomes easier for them to involve us in their rebellion against God or, at least, to weaken or incapacitate us for the true fight against these spirits.
On the other hand, a heart that—thanks to the influence of the Holy Spirit—becomes increasingly pure and in which God’s grace flows is unbearable to them. Just think of the most pure Heart of the Virgin Mary, from whom they must flee. In addition, such a heart becomes increasingly inflamed with love for God and for human beings, and places itself completely at the service of the heavenly Father. Therefore, it will fight against anything that seeks to tarnish the glory of God and will carry the message of the Gospel to others. This, in turn, weakens the power of the Evil One, so that every pure heart becomes a threat to him—not only because it does not allow itself to be led astray by his machinations, but because it actively combats them with the power of the Lord. Thus, we can take our place in the army of the Lamb, cooperating through our prayer and our struggle for holiness so that the peace of Christ may come to humanity and the power of His love may drive away the darkness.
A PURE HEART IN THE ARMY OF THE LAMB
Having purified our hearts, beloved Father, we can dare even more to undertake great things without neglecting the small ones. Did not St. Paul give good witness to the faith before the great ones of this world (cf. Acts 26)? Did not Elijah and John the Baptist fearlessly denounce the evil deeds of kings (1 Kings 18:17–18; Matthew 14:3–4)? And did not the apostles give courageous witness to Your beloved Son before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1–20)? Who made them capable of this, if not You? You communicated to them the spirit of fortitude. And that same spirit is what we need today to resist the machinations of evil spirits and of people who, consciously or unconsciously, cooperate with them.
Day 19: “A way to a pure heart” (Part II)
In yesterday’s meditation, we began a short series on the theme of the conversion of the heart. I thought it appropriate to address this topic within the framework of our Lenten journey for two reasons. First, because, in imitation of Christ, it is always necessary to deepen our conversion so that our lives may be as fruitful as possible in the service of our beloved Father and so that we may never cease on the path of following His Son. Second, because the deepest conversion of our hearts is a spiritual weapon in the fight against discord and war. Later, I will explain this aspect in more detail, because in this way we can confront the “evil spirits in the air” (Eph 6:12), who are always ready to take advantage of humanity’s evil inclinations for their wicked plans.
In this spirit, let us continue today with the theme of the conversion of our hearts.
With the willingness to perceive one’s depths before the loving Lord, a double realism arises: one recognises both the dark side in oneself and at the same time encounters the mercy of God. One understands that God does not reject and punish because of the impurity that comes from the heart, but that His love has set out to bring light into the darkness.
YOUR SEAL ON MY HEART
Dear Father, we have set out on the path to obtain a pure heart. Indeed, You desire to grant it to us, but we must also do our part. After hearing the word of truth and the gospel of life and believing, we long for nothing more than to be sealed with the promised Spirit (cf. Ephesians 1:13).
Day 18: “The Transformation of the Heart” (Part I)
As I mentioned at the end of the last meditation, I would like to include in our Lenten itinerary a short series on the transformation of the heart. On the one hand, it is a theme that appears again and again in the biblical texts of Lent, which describe how the human heart turns away from God and clearly point out the abysses that exist within it. On the other hand, it is also fitting to delve more deeply into this theme in light of the wars taking place in the world and which, unfortunately, are once again affecting the people of the Middle East. The war that has just broken out has a very significant impact on Israel, the land where Jesus accomplished the work of Redemption.
In the context of our “Lenten retreat,” I do not consider it my task to explain in detail the political, social, and religious background of the conflict between Israel and Iran. Rather, I am moved by the question of what we, as disciples of the Lord, can do to contribute to the true peace that comes from God.
A PURE HEART
Today, beloved Father, we want to reflect on the pure heart. It must be a heart that belongs to You without reserve, that no longer seeks personal fulfillment, but only to be with You and serve You. It is a heart like that of the Blessed Virgin Mary—a heart that finds happiness in its depths because it has found its home. It no longer seeks anything for itself, nor is it seduced by the things of this world, false hopes, or illusions. It is a heart in which You dwell and have pitched Your tent. Such a heart is infinitely valuable in Your eyes, and You will never abandon it!
“THE CONVERSION OF THE HEART”
Beloved Father, the outcome of the story of Joseph and his brothers shows how You know how to use even the evil that people think and do to carry out Your plan of love. This demonstrates Your omnipotence and gives us hope when we witness so much injustice in the world. Who, if not You, could turn evil into good? Only You!
Thus, we can live and cling to You in the midst of the evil that spreads around us. That does not mean that we have to stop calling “evil” “evil,” but we take away its claim to omnipotence and do not give up. In the end, it will not be evil or the Evil One who triumphs, but the power of Your love. That is certain!