Second Sunday of Lent • March 1, 2026
He saved us and called us to a holy life — 2 Timothy 1:9
Here, near the beginning of Lent, we are reminded as Christians, to turn or return completely to Christian commitment. It is so easy to get caught up in the humdrum of our lives, to fill our space with noise, to drown out the still small voice of God calling us to greater life. Our lives should be a consistent exercise in letting go of things that keep us from being transfigured. Yet, we linger in what we think are safe and secure ruts. The gift of Lent can be for us an intense period of purification and enlightenment, a time of transformation, a time of deepening our life with Christ. How do we do this?
During the papal conclave of his election to become Pope Francis, then Cardinal Bergoglio gave a three-minute speech “in which he said the Church, in order to survive, must stop ‘living within herself, of herself, for herself’” (Rolling Stone, Binelli 2/13/14). Well, here’s a news flash—we are the Church! Each one of us must stop living within ourselves, of ourselves, for ourselves. We must be love to a hurting world.
Pope Leo concludes his exhortation, Dilexi Te, with these words: “Christian love breaks down every barrier, brings close those who were distant, unites strangers, and reconciles enemies. . .Love is above all a way of looking at life and a way of living it. A Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight but only men and women to love, is the Church that the world needs today (120). Through your work, your efforts to change unjust social structures or your simple, heartfelt gesture of closeness and support, the poor will come to realize that Jesus’ words are addressed personally to each of them: “I have loved you” (Rev 3:9) (121).
For the next three weekends, please stop by to “Join in the Joy of Just Service” at our Works of Mercy tables in the narthex. Our devoted coordinators need YOU to be counted to help spread love. You can deepen your life with Christ by walking with others, especially the poor.
If we implement even a small portion of what our popes say, we will see ourselves changing, like a butterfly shaking free from its cocoon. By living a holy life of love, we will change our world as well.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director
Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral Raleigh, NC