The Scriptures present Christ’s sacrifice as more than symbolic — it is a real and weighty bearing of humanity’s sin. Saint Paul emphasizes this in 2 Corinthians 5:21, explaining that Christ, sinless Himself, was made to carry the consequences of human rebellion. This divine act is a profound expression of love, described by Pope Benedict XVI in Deus Caritas Est as a “turning of God against Himself.” It is not an indication of divine division, but of love so deep that it enters even the darkest places of human failure. On the Cross, Christ’s perfect obedience meets humanity’s disobedience, demonstrating that the crucifixion is the result of sacrificial love rather than divine wrath. This love is inclusive, extending to adversaries, the indifferent, and the hostile, revealing that Christ’s mercy does not wait for human merit.

Yet, this transformative message faces modern obstacles. The contemporary world is immersed in distraction, novelty, and noise, echoing the Athenian preoccupation with “telling or hearing something new” noted in Acts 17:21. Endless scrolling, sensational news, and shallow debates often overshadow the deeper truths of faith, replacing reflection with fleeting attention. The paschal mystery — Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection — calls believers to resist this superficiality, inviting a dialogue grounded in salvation rather than novelty. God seeks hearts attuned to Him, speaking most clearly through Christ’s suffering, mirrored today in the struggles of the innocent, marginalized, and wounded. By confronting this suffering honestly, humanity can recognize the distance it has drifted from God, seen in violence, exploitation, environmental degradation, and spiritual malaise.

The paschal mystery, however, is not a message of despair but of ongoing conversion. Conversion is a reorientation of mind, heart, and life, reflected not in mere words but in changed priorities and actions. Practices like almsgiving illustrate this transformation, allowing believers to imitate Christ’s self-emptying love. Charitable acts, when sincere, restore dignity to the recipient and humility to the giver, breaking cycles of indifference and fostering genuine compassion. Lent intensifies this spiritual work, offering a season of prayer, fasting, and giving that strips away illusions and confronts individuals with their attachments, failures, and fears. Through such disciplines, believers can engage in personal and communal renewal, aligning more closely with God’s vision of justice, mercy, and love.

This year, Lent coincides with a special gathering in Assisi from March 26 to 28, where young economists, entrepreneurs, and innovators will explore ways to build economic systems that are more humane, just, sustainable, and inclusive. Assisi, home to Saint Francis, symbolizes the transformative power of spiritual freedom over material accumulation. Francis’s example reminds the modern world that wealth and privilege can obscure human value, and that true prosperity is measured by compassion, justice, and care for creation. The attendees hope to channel this spirit into practical solutions that honor workers, uplift the marginalized, and foster community. Such efforts succeed when grounded in the spiritual depth revealed in Christ’s suffering and triumph, demonstrating that faith and action are inseparable in the pursuit of a just society.

Finally, Lent challenges each believer to participate actively in this transformation, even within small spheres of influence. Reflecting on relationships, habits, and choices becomes an exercise in aligning with Christ’s sacrificial love — love willing to forgive, to sacrifice, and to embrace those deemed unworthy. Turning to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, provides guidance and inspiration, as she exemplifies unwavering faith and endurance in the face of suffering. Lent is a season of purification, clearing away falsehood to allow truth, peace, generosity, and hope to flourish. By embracing this discipline, believers are called to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Mt 5:13-14), preserving what is good and illuminating what is true. Through Lent, hearts are renewed, distractions and divisions are overcome, and the path from the Cross to the Resurrection becomes a guide for transforming the world, one heart at a time.