Blog & Pastor Letters

Lent, Repentance and Your Soul

02-21-2021Weekly ReflectionRev. Victor C. Yakubu

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten journey, a period of forty days and forty nights. On that day we received ashes on our foreheads, a reminder that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. If only we could realize how grim life is, we would always be careful to make the right choices in matters of morality, faith, and life generally. For all those wrong choices, we turn to God at this Lenten period to ask for his forgiveness and help as we indulge in prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

The ability to turn to God at this time shows how determined we are to embrace the ways of God. The book of Genesis gives us graphic accounts of God’s covenant with man. God placed man above all created things and commanded him to take control. Man (used here to include woman) is created in the image and likeness of God to uphold the sanctity of human life for all generations.

Listen to the words of God to Noah, “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you.” From this moment, Noah knew that God truly desired righteousness as a way of life. Remember, it was because of his loyalty to God that saved him and all those who were with him in the ark. But for those who did not believe his words, the flood came and washed them away.

The same message can be applied today to our salvation journey. Jesus Christ came to lead us back to God because of the love of the Father for all of us. The Father does not want any soul to be lost but to be saved. Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, he paid for our sinfulness to free us from death and punishment.

St. Peter says, “Christ suffered for our sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.” As Christ has paid the price with his life, we ought to repent of our sinfulness now that there’s time.
The Father loves your soul to be with him after your sojourn from this life, and so, he wants you to consider a new chapter with him. The weight of sin can drag you down to unrighteousness just like the people at the time of Noah. The consequence of that choice is regret, punishment and sorrow. Noah obeyed God and entered the ark as commanded of him by God. The result was commendable for all ages to emulate. He saved himself and all those who were with him. In your case, you can enter into an agreement with Jesus, the new Ark of the Covenant by confessing all your sins and guilt.

Jesus was in the desert for forty days and forty nights praying and fasting as an example for all to follow. He did not allow the devil to influence his desire for food. He rather proclaimed the gospel of repentance for all to hear: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” When we listen to the words of Jesus, we hear a proclamation that invites us to change our direction from the world to God.

What each of us can do throughout this period of Lent is to make a personal commitment to seek God and his righteousness. The life we live belongs to God and yet he asks of us little things that matter so much to our spiritual welfare. If you want to eat an omelet, you must first break some eggs. Thus, Christianity goes with sacrifice for cleansing your soul. Make this lent a memorable one by returning to your God in prayer, fasting and alms giving. Keep praying!

BACK TO LIST