He Bore Our Sin for Love’s Sake
For our sake, Christ was made to bear the weight of sin (cf. 2 Cor 5:21). In a profound mystery of divine love, the Father laid upon His Son the burden of our transgressions. Pope Benedict XVI poignantly described this as a “turning of God against Himself” (Deus Caritas Est, 12)—a dramatic expression of divine self-giving. God’s love does not end at the threshold of faith; it stretches even toward His enemies (cf. Mt 5:43–48), inviting every human heart into a relationship of redemption.
This invitation is not idle chatter or abstract philosophy. It is far from the shallow curiosity of the Athenians who “spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). Today’s world often mirrors this superficial thirst for novelty, manifesting in the misuse of media and the flood of empty, distracted communication. But God’s message through the paschal mystery cuts through the noise—it is a call to real transformation.
A Mystery at the Heart of Human Suffering
When we place the paschal mystery at the center of our lives, we are called to see Christ crucified in the suffering of the world: in the victims of war and violence, in the vulnerable lives—from the unborn to the elderly—threatened by injustice, and in the devastation wrought by ecological disasters. We also see His pain in the victims of human trafficking and in the relentless, idolatrous drive for profit that dehumanizes us all.
In this light, almsgiving becomes not merely a gesture of kindness, but a profound act of justice and communion. We are summoned to break the chains of greed, to open our hands and hearts, and to recognize that the resources we hold are gifts meant to be shared. Charity enlarges the soul; hoarding contracts it, imprisoning us in self-centeredness.
A Call to Action: Building a New Economy
As we seek to live this out, we must not overlook the structural realities that perpetuate inequality and exploitation. True conversion leads us to examine the very foundations of our economic systems. That is why, during this Lenten season—from March 26 to 28—I have convened a meeting in Assisi with young economists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. Our aim is to inspire and shape a more just, inclusive, and compassionate economy. As the Church has long taught, political engagement—when rooted in love—is one of the highest forms of charity (cf. Pius XI, Address to the Italian Federation).
A Prayer for Renewal
As we journey through Lent, I entrust our hearts to the intercession of Mary Most Holy. May she help us receive God’s call to reconciliation with openness and humility. Let us return to the heart of our faith—the death and resurrection of Christ—and allow it to renew us, so we may become what He calls us to be: salt of the earth and light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13–14).
