Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
“You have but one teacher, you have but one Father, you have but one master, the Messiah”
Today, more than ever before, we have to work for our personal and collective salvation, as Saint Paul states, with regard and significance, for “on the day of salvation I helped you.” (2Co 6:2). Lent offers us a sacred chance, granted by our Father, so that with an attitude of profound conversion, we may invigorate our personal values, become conscious of our own blunders and repent from our sins, with the intention that our life becomes —through the action of the Holy Spirit— a fuller and riper life.
For our behavior to fit with that of our Lord Jesus, a gesture of humility is fundamental, as Pope Emeritus Benedict said: “I recognize myself for what I am, a frail creature, made from earth and destined to return to earth, yet also made in the image of God and destined for him”.
In Jesus’ times there were many “models” that prayed and behaved just to be seen, to be revered: vain people, cardboard characters, which could not stimulate either the growth or the development of their neighbors. Their attitude and behavior did not evidence the pathway to God: “but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” (Mt 23:3).
Modern society also displays an infinite amount of behavior models that lead to a vertiginous and wild sort of life that weakens our awareness of transcendence. Let us not allow these fake referents to make us lose sight of the true Master: “You have but one teacher, you have but one Father, you have but one master, the Messiah” (Mt 23:8-9-10).
Let us, therefore, take advantage of Lent to invigorate our own convictions as Jesus’ disciples. Let us try to have some sacred moments, “moments in the desert”, when we may rediscover ourselves and we may meet the true Model and Master. And in front of those specific situations when we wonder how to react, let us ask ourselves: what would Jesus say? How would Jesus behave?