The pope explained that Lent's main objective for Christians is to stay away from evil, and learn to do good.
POPE FRANCIS
'Itâ??s not easy to do good: we must learn it, always. And He teaches us. But: Learn. Like children. Along the path of life, of the Christian life one learns every day. You have to learn every day to do something, to be better than the day before.â?
He recalled that conversion is not just about preaching or coming up with good ideas, but instead to stop doing bad and begin to good, concrete things.
EXCERPTS OF PAPAL HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'Itâ??s not easy to do good: we must learn it, always. And He teaches us. But: Learn. Like children. Along the path of life, of the Christian life one learns every day. You have to learn every day to do something, to be better than the day before. To learn. Avoiding evil and learning to do good: this is the rule of conversion. Because being converted doesnâ??t come from a fairy who converts us with a magic wand: No! Itâ??s a journey. Itâ??s a journey of avoiding and of learning.â?
'He, the Lord, names three concrete things, but there are many: seek justice, relieve the oppressed, give orphans justice, defend the cause of the widowâ?¦ but concrete things. You learn to do good with concrete things, not with words. With deedsâ?¦ For this reason Jesus, in the Gospel we have heard, rebukes this ruling class of the people of Israel, because â??they talk and donâ??t act,â?? they donâ??t know concreteness. And if there is no concreteness, there can be no conversion.â?
'An invitation to conversion, avoid evil, learn to do goodâ?¦ â??Come, arise, come to me, let us reason together, and let us go forward.â?? But [you might say] I have so many sinsâ?¦â?? â??But donâ??t worryâ?? [God responds]. â??If your sins should be like scarlet, they will become white as snow.â?? And this is the path of Lenten conversion. Simple. It is the Father who speaks, it is the Father who loves us, who really loves us. And who accompanies us on this path of conversion. Only He asks us to be humble. Jesus says to the rulers: â??He who exalts himself will be humble; and he who humbles himself will be exaltedâ??.â?
