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“Be Reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Once again, the Lord grants us a season of grace to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection—the cornerstone of our Christian faith. We must continually return to this mystery, allowing it to transform us as we open ourselves to its power with faith and generosity.
1. The Paschal Mystery and Our Conversion
True Christian joy comes from embracing the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection. This message calls us into a relationship with God, reminding us that life is His gift, meant to be lived in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). Rejecting the voice of deceit, we avoid falling into despair and suffering, which so often mark human history.
As I wrote in Christus Vivit: “Keep your eyes fixed on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified, allowing Him to save you again and again. When you confess your sins, trust in His mercy. Contemplate His blood poured out in love and be cleansed by it” (No. 123). The power of Christ’s Passion remains ever-present, especially in those who suffer.
2. The Urgency of Conversion
We must deepen our contemplation of the Paschal Mystery, through which God’s mercy is revealed. Encountering Christ in prayer fosters an intimate dialogue between us and our loving Savior. Prayer is not just a duty—it is an essential response to God’s love. True prayer penetrates our hearts, breaking down our resistance and leading us to conversion.
Like Israel in the desert (cf. Hos 2:14), let us listen attentively to God’s voice. The more we immerse ourselves in His Word, the more we experience His mercy. Let us not waste this season of grace, assuming we control the timing of our conversion.
3. God’s Desire for Dialogue
God’s invitation to conversion should never be taken for granted. Despite the presence of evil in the world and the Church, He never ceases to call us. In Christ crucified—who became sin for us (cf. 2 Cor 5:21)—God demonstrates His love even for His enemies (cf. Mt 5:43-48).
Unlike the idle chatter of the Athenians in Acts 17:21, God’s call to us is not empty talk but a profound dialogue of salvation. We must guard against superficial distractions, including the misuse of modern media, which can lead us away from true spiritual engagement.
4. Sharing the Richness of Christ’s Love
Centering our lives on the Paschal Mystery moves us to compassion. We see Christ’s wounds in the innocent victims of war, the unborn, the elderly, and those suffering from violence, exploitation, and environmental destruction. These injustices call us to action.
Almsgiving is a concrete way to participate in building a just world. Charity makes us more human, while greed enslaves us. This year, from March 26–28, I have convened a meeting in Assisi with young economists and entrepreneurs to promote a fairer economy. As the Church teaches, economic and political life must be rooted in charity (cf. Pius XI, 1927).
I ask Mary, Most Holy, to intercede for us so that this Lent may deepen our reconciliation with God. May we fix our gaze on Christ, engage in sincere dialogue with Him, and become the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-14).
Francis
