During Lent, all of us Catholics are called to examine our lives and actions, especially how we observe this liturgical season.

This time is given to us to reorient our lives so we may once again be attuned to God, our most loving Father. We are reminded that sin is something that can truly harm us and bring us to destruction unless we distance ourselves from it and wickedness. We must resist the temptation to sin against God, not to allow ourselves to be easily swayed by the devil’s lies and false promises — all the things that may lead us toward the path of our downfall and destruction.

And that means that in our own lives if we allow sin to lead us astray, we will have to account for it before the Lord at the time of the Final Judgment.

This means we cannot presume that we can continue living in a state of sin without repenting and seeking forgiveness. Yes, God is indeed ever loving and merciful towards us, His beloved children, but at the same time God is a holy and just Lord in Whose Presence no sin or evil can exist or remain.

Therefore, we must make sure that we rid ourselves of all sorts of sin and impurities, repenting of our wicked ways and manners which are unbecoming of us as Christians, as God’s holy, chosen and beloved people. Each and every one of us ought to live our lives in the manner that is truly pleasing to God, committing ourselves to follow Him in His Law and commandments, obeying Him wholeheartedly and removing from ourselves the corruption of sin.

We must remember how God’s love and compassion has made it possible for us to have hope today, the hope that we have received from the most loving and selfless sacrifice which Christ our Lord offered on the Altar of His Cross at Calvary.

Through this loving sacrifice, and the perfect offering He made for our sake, Christ Our Lord and Savior has provided all of us the path out of the darkness and tyranny of sin, opening for us the gates of Heaven itself, giving us the straight path to salvation, should we be willing to commit ourselves to the path of repentance and embrace God’s mercy and forgiveness.

We must be thankful that God, our most loving and patient Father, has always loved us so patiently and wonderfully all this while, and we truly should not take His love for granted.

The Lord reminded His disciples and all who were listening to Him that all must be vigilant against sin, that everyone is a sinner, all in need of God’s mercy, forgiveness and healing.

The Lord pointed out that just because some people suffer certain tragedies and events, that does not mean they are greater in their sins or faults. Most importantly, that there should be no prejudice, bias or attitudes like the Pharisees and teachers of the Law who thought they were better than others.