Time of lent
My Dearest, the time of Lent is about to begin.
What is Lent? It is a time of conversion, a path towards the resurrection, expectation and promises of restauration.
The Book of Prophet Ezechiel reads as follows: “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land, so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” (Ez 22:30)
It is God speaking to us and inviting us to rise up to defend our brothers. It is the call to be intercessors.
This is the favourable time to take up the weapons for the battle: prayer, fast and love.
Whom shall we intercede for?
For our brothers, particularly for the most marginalized ones. By marginalized I do not only mean the last ones, but those that today’s world wants to become last: our brothers of Israel. To deny Israel is to deny God’s promises together with the possibility of unity and the instauration of the Kingdom. It is not about taking sides for one people against another people, but about siding with God’s plan, in which we are called to make the two peoples become one.
For our communities spread throughout the world, that they may experience the blessings of prosperity together with a visible communion with the ecclesial authorities and that they may be an effective instrument for the New Evangelisation.
For our Founder, Fr Ricardo, that the Lord may clothe him always more with prophetic momentum.
For our families, that they may be witnesses of the indissoluble and fertile love as well as a place where virginal vocations spring up.
For the diseased, that they may receive health and give witness to the power of resurrection.
What shall we do?
Choose one day of the week that will be specifically dedicated to intercession.
How shall we intercede? On the chosen day, we will…
… increase the time of prayer and/or attend the intercession prayer meetings.
… fast according to life status and local conditions, avoiding one meal and/or particular food and/or drinks.
… increase the generosity according to one’s possibilities.
All indications should be implemented with pastoral wisdom and a healthy balance, in communion with the guidelines of the respective local leadership.
May the Lord grant us to accomplish acts of conversion and join in the joyful singing of the Easter Alleluia.
Plzen, February 17th, 2007
