“No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great”. Pope Francis
I totally agree with our Pope. The Season of Lent is not to be hard with one self, but to be compassionate and tender hearted to one another. However, every one observes this season according to one’s own faith and perceptions.
Easter reminds us that ‘Jesus lives!” Already from the beginning of Holy Week, we wish each other through Whats app, E-mail, Greeting Cards etc. “HAPPY EASTER!” and celebrate this great feast by breaking our abstinence, Fast and unfortunately even some resolutions that we made in the beginning of Lent. I believe that the Risen Lord will be happier if we can transform our anger into gentleness, hatred into love, haste into patience, selfishness into selflessness, perjury into generosity, idleness into active service, vengeance into forgiveness, stubbornness into flexibility, pride into humility, disobedience into obedience, greed for luxury into simplicity……………….
For me it was a very enriching and learning experience during this season of Lent, as I encountered our sisters in the communities of France. Most of them are old and sick, nearing the end of their lives. But their love and concern for others is astonishing! Even the sisters who are 90 or above 90 years old, serve others with genuine love and concern, irrespective of age, colour and culture! I am certain that many of them neither abstain nor fast due to their ill health. But they live their lives with the utmost sincerity and humility.
In fact, we need not look for Jesus in the grave where he was buried, for he certainly lives in these living sisters. How I wish if only I could live like these sisters without complaining or murmuring, but with true spirit of prayer and commitment! Then, we can celebrate Easter not only after Good Friday but every day!
Sr. Shobha