“Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: Who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life….”—Pope Benedict XVI
Most of us look forward to the yearly Easter break as an opportune time for a vacation and a much-awaited four-day holiday. It is a respite from the daily routine of tight calendars and hectic schedules. Driven by such expectation, we tend to miss out on the real meaning of the occasion. No matter what our circumstances are during this time of year, we can still observe the season in many ways.
Lent is a time of sacrifice, penance and forgiveness. It is a reminder of the passion and death of our Lord and, more important, His resurrection. We are called to cleanse ourselves from the bondage of sin in order that we, too, can be resurrected. By offering sacrifices, doing works of mercy and making penance we are one with the season. In doing so, we prepare for Easter celebration, where we can be one in the Lord’s resurrection. To resurrect means to bring new life, a new life where we are afforded a fresh start. As Pope Francis said, “Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.”
In the spirit of Lent and the forthcoming Easter season, let us take advantage of this special time of the year by reflecting on how we can best nourish our spiritual hunger. Let us remember that amid the hustle and bustle of life on Earth, we need to prepare for the “life” that awaits us, the life that Jesus offers.
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Dr. Conchita L. Manabat is the president of the Development Center for Finance and a trustee of the Finex Development and Research Foundation. A past chairman of the International Association of Financial Executives Institutes (IAFEI), she now serves as the chairman of the Advisory Council of the said organization. She can be reached at
clm@clmanabat.com.