We are called by truth to faith.
And the truth is God sent His Son to be His Voice to the world:
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
The truth is Jesus came into the world to bring salvation:
“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)
The truth is Jesus knew he was to suffer and die for the people he came to save:
“We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:31 – 33)
The truth is Jesus was captured, prosecuted and crucified as he had foretold:
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
The truth is Jesus rose from death and appeared to his disciples in fulfillment of his mission:
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 23:44)
The truth is the disciples were sent to share their witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ:
“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 23:46 – 48)
And now, knowing the truth of Jesus Christ – his teachings, his miracles, his divinity – we are called to faith:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
This is faith. That we will inherit eternal life if we follow and believe in Jesus Christ. We are called to this faith by the overwhelming truth of everything Jesus said and did. Empowered by faith, we will know life everlasting and victory over death.
The forty days of Lent is a time for our spiritual awakening. It’s a time to prepare anew for the coming of the Savior. By sacrifice, by ritual, by prayerful devotion, we seek the risen Christ and await his loving embrace.