Let us make the most of this time and spiritually renew ourselves

February 12, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. As we begin the season of Lent, I wish to share some thoughts with you. Lent is more than how we will live during the next 40 days. Instead, it is about how we will live for all eternity. Christ hungers for a relationship with us. He hungers for us far more than we hunger for Him. He has done everything possible to break down any obstacle between us and the love of God. He became man. He died on the cross for us. He rose to life again. He did all of this so that we could be with Him for all eternity.

Any sinful obstacles between us and God are of our making, but no obstacle is stronger than the mercy of God. Lent is the time for us to honestly examine our lives and to admit where our sins are creating obstacles which are keeping us from God. It is a time to repent of those sins and to turn back to God. Our eternal salvation depends upon this. Bishop Fulton Sheen, a great evangelist of the 20^th century, used to remind his listeners that when we die we will appear before someone who will be smiling broadly, have his arms spread wide in welcome, and will say: “Mine!” Whether that someone will be the Lord or Satan is our choice.

I urge all of us to acknowledge our sins and to go to Confession this Lent. Let us not allow anything to hold us back. We cannot allow the love of the things of this world to keep us from the love of God. The world hates Christians, so why would we give our love to the world instead of following Christ? The world and all its allurements will pass away; the love of God will remain. Let us avail ourselves of this gift of God, even and especially if it has been a long time since we went to Confession.

Lent is our preparation for the celebration of the great event of our salvation – the passion, death, and resurrection of Our Lord. Let us make the most of this time and spiritually renew ourselves, mindful of the fact that we are created for eternal life.

Sincerely in the Lord,

Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi
Archbishop of Mobile