First Sunday of Lent: Reflect, repent as ‘sin and darkness’ show themselves in Russia-Ukraine war

The 40 days of this 12 months’s Lenten season began this previous week, on Ash Wednesday, as Christian trustworthy everywhere in the world started the non secular commemoration of the 40 days that Jesus spent within the desert, when he was repeatedly tempted by Devil.

“This 12 months, the knowledge and cautions of Lent are heightened by the violence and uncertainty coming from Ukraine.”

Referencing these 40 days spent in prayer and preparation by Jesus forward of his public ministry, Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, a priest at Our Woman of Grace Parish in Indian Land, South Carolina, instructed Fox Information Digital that Christians ought to use this time period to work on their very own non secular renewal.

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They will do that via “prayer, fasting and almsgiving,” mentioned Kirby.

The first Sunday in Lent is additionally known as Quadragesima Sunday, which is derived from the Latin phrases which means “fortieth,” as this first Sunday is precisely 40 days earlier than Easter. 

There are six Sundays in all in Lent, together with Palm Sunday.

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The observance of Lent in its entirety retains the eyes of the trustworthy on God and on his guarantees contained within the Bible, mentioned Fr. Kirby, creator of the brand new guide, “Glory Unto Glory: A Primer on Ascetical Theology.”

“What’s going to we do with the reward of life?”

“On Ash Wednesday, the stark reminder was on condition that we’re mud and unto mud we will return,” he mentioned.

Ash Wednesday this previous week marked the beginning of Lent this 12 months — and at a time when there’s such tragedy and violence occurring in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, we have to flip to God greater than ever, urges one Catholic priest.
(Getty Photographs)

This thought reminds every of us that life itself “hangs within the stability,” and that all through your complete Lenten season we’re urged to “repent and consider within the Gospel.” 

Our lives at the moment are “juxtaposed” between our start and our dying, he mentioned. 

“What’s going to we do with the reward of life? How will our lives contribute to what Saint Paul known as ‘the extra glorious approach of affection’?”

Fr. Jeff Kirby instructed Fox Information Digital that in Lent, we should “repent and consider within the Gospel.” He additionally mentioned, “As a sovereign nation is invaded and fights for its very existence, we see the tragedy of sin and darkness play itself out in our fallen world.”
(Fr. Jeff Kirby)

Fr. Kirby mentioned that the dying and struggling we see within the persevering with struggle in Ukraine ought to function sobering reminders of the fact of evil and sin.

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“This 12 months, each the knowledge and cautions of Lent are heightened by the violence and uncertainty coming from Ukraine,” he famous. 

“As a sovereign nation is invaded and fights for its very existence, we see the tragedy of sin and darkness play itself out in our fallen world.” 

Destroyed buildings are seen on March 03, 2022, in Irpin, Ukraine.
(Picture by Chris McGrath/Getty Photographs)

Saying that good persons are shocked and dazed by the fact of what’s occurring in Ukraine, Kirby famous that peace has been “shattered” by a merciless “will to energy.” 

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“Tranquility has been overturned by uncooked aggression,” he mentioned.

The “calm of life” has been overtaken by “unprovoked brutalism.”

A Ukrainian mother, Karina, and her daughter Luna, age 3, converse with a UNICEF regional director for Europe and Central Asia inside Romania.
(UNICEF/Alex Nicodim)

Kirby defined that “darkish spirits … expose the fallenness of our world and remind Christians, and all folks of excellent will, of the tragic penalties of humanity’s capability for sin and destruction.”

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We will observe the primary Sunday of Lent by wanting inward as we pray for peace throughout these horrifying and unsure instances, Fr. Kirby famous.

“The fallenness of the world serves as a continuing examination of conscience and a robust reminder, particularly throughout Lent,” mentioned Kirby, “of why we have to mood our spirits, search advantage and aspire to comply with the extra glorious approach of affection.”

Stick with Fox Information Digital via all of Lent this 12 months, as Christians put together for Easter.