“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; exult, all you upright of heart.”
– Psalms 32:11
In the readings today, we hear the promise of the upcoming season of Lent and Our Lord’s call to follow Him: true gladness, deep-seated joy. Sin often suggests that it will satisfy, but then on the other side of giving vent to angry words or greedy actions, we find that we are less satisfied than before. Sin offers no real joy. And yet, the honest humility required to turn away from sin is thought to be too difficult, too demanding, surely (so it is imagined) repentance is not the way to happiness.
In the face of temptation and discouragement, Sirach describes the encouragement that God gives when we desire to turn back to Him. “To the penitent God provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope… How great is the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!” (Sirach 17:24, 29) We do not travel the path of conversion alone. Rather it is God who walks with us in every step of humble admission of what needs to change in our lives. The greatness of the LORD’s mercy and forgiveness await us as we turn to him in truth.
The rich young man was not satisfied with his many possessions, and that is why he goes looking for Jesus in the first place. He goes away sad, returning to the dissatisfaction of accumulation. Yet, what did Jesus offer him and what does he continue to offer us? The satisfaction of being one with Christ in his mercy, generously sharing with those in need, knowing the presence of His heart through letting His grace work through our hands in service. As we take another step towards Lent, let us ask for the grace to know that God walks with us, encouraging us in the turn away from sin, and speeding us along the satisfying path of charity and its joys.