A TIME OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

We are now well into Lent and this Third Sunday is known as Oculi Sunday. The day is named from the opening of the day’s Introit (Psalm 25:15), My eyes are ever toward the Lord. The prayers of today encourage the faithful to keep their focus on God and prayer in a material and busy world.

We often think of Lent as a season of fasting, of self-denial and penitence. However, if we approach this season only with these concepts in mind, I think we are missing an important point. Lent is about spiritual renewal and preparation, rather like Advent. We are embarked on a forty-day journey of inner conversion. In other words, change, purification and reconciliation. This process is often referred to Metanoia, a Greek term meaning a change of heart or mind. It signifies a transformation of one's whole being—mind, heart, and soul—moving beyond selfish living to a new way of thinking and acting in alignment with God's will. In that regard, Lent is not simply about penance, but rather it denotes a profound spiritual shift and renewal of our faith. The season is not merely about penance, but preparing to fully experience the joy of the resurrection, recognising that spiritual renewal leads to new life in Christ.

Of course, through self-denial, we achieve a state that is called Kenosis, another Greek term, that means self-emptying. Inspired by Christ’s sacrifice, the faithful empty themselves of material desires through fasting and self-denial to be filled with God's love and grace. Through fasting and self-denial, we participate in solidarity with Christ's 40-day fast, his preparation for his mission and his ultimate victory over sin and death. For us, it is a physical symbol of spiritual detachment that helps cultivate

self-control and focus on spiritual needs rather than material pleasures. Lent then serves as a kind of Springtime of the Soul, a season that transforms hearts and which strengthens one's will to live out the faith more authentically.