Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC

SEASON OF LENT 2012

Message from Most Rev Dr Harold Anthony Perera, Chairman, Catholic National Commission for Justice, Peace and Human Development

“UNITY THROUGH RECONCILIATION”

The Lenten theme chosen by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka for the year 2012 is ‘ Unity Through Reconciliation’.

There is no doubt that  this theme has been chosen taking the signs of the times into close consideration and based on a matter very  dear to the hearts and minds of all Christians and all other people of goodwill.

As Christians we are now entering into a period of the Liturgical Year which not only calls us to repentance and amendments but also to deep reflection on our own lives.

We may see smiling faces all around us and people greeting each other, but if the smiles are not rooted in repentance, then we cannot expect to have true unity. In a process of reconciliation, there is no place for the past. The past is only to provide experience for the future. Indeed, the past has to be buried through repentance.

There are many wounded hearts all around us and we must make sure that these hearts do not continue to be wounded. Instead, what the country needs today is the kind of unity that will bring about healing through genuine repentance.
By unity we do not mean a society free of conflict but rather a society in the environment of which all people can enjoy freedom, and experience love and compassion.

At the very beginning of the Season of Lent, the Prophet Joel invites us not to tear our garments but to tear out our hearts and minds through repentance. Our compassionate Lord who is always ready to forgive is waiting in this season for repentant hearts to turn to Him ( Joel 2:13). Certainly, tearing out our minds is a difficult task. It is even unpleasant and painful due to our frail human nature. Yet, its fruits are invaluable. And true repentance demands it.
To forgive is easy. To forget is difficult. Yet, we have to go through this experience and witness this reality in our lives if we are to rise to a true Easter. This is the real beginning of unity, even though the process to achieve it is a long and hard one.

Harmonious coexistence, goodwill and social progress can be built not by those who utter empty words but only by a community whose actions stand out as a shining example  that  speaks  louder than words. That is the spring from which true unity flows.

Therefore, in this season of grace let us not confine ourselves to its mere rituals. Let us build a close and deep relationship with Our Lord, experience a deep change in our inner lives and dedicate ourselves to the service of our brethren so that we could share with the Lord the real experience of Easter.