Renew call this season

Faith, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday March 13th, 2014

 THE Archbishop of Port Moresby, John Ribat, is calling on everyone to use the Lent season to renew God’s call on them to be united with Him.

In his message marking start of the Lent season in the Roman Catholic faith, Archbishop Ribat said Christians should use this time to remind ourselves why God in Jesus became one like us, and he experienced totally our human life both our joys and  struggles and sufferings. 

“As this Lenten season reminds us of this, we receive ashes on our forehead with these words: ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return’ or ‘Repent and believe the Gospel’. 

“We are all aware that, out of God’s unlimited love and mercy for us he died to save us, take away our sins and bring us back to his Father and our Father. 

“The church invites us to participate in this great works of love and mercy. 

“The greatest of all commandments is: Love of God and love of neighbour (Mt 22: 37-40).” 

He said this season was a time of fasting. 

“Fasting is always associated with food, abstaining from food.

“This can mean abstaining from attitudes, behaviours and practices that are not Christ-like.” 

He said there were a lot of sufferings they witnessed and saw around them. 

“The practices that speaks of jealousy, fights, and corruptions: thoughts and actions, bad language, and consumption of alcohol that leads to injury of another person, only to mention a few,” he said. 

“Let us be united and promote respect for individuals and properties and do good to others.  

“So that when we journey together on Good Friday in carrying the Cross, we may truly realise that we have been really caring and doing our best for the good of the ones we have been so unkind to.

“And our celebration of Easter will be a joy and spiritfilled celebration, a real blessing to our life as nation, families, communities and churches.”