A New Man Set the Captives Free I

I. Both The Secular and Sacred Calendar begins in winter. Odd time considering nature begins in the Spring.
-I have been germinating seeds. Garden of Graces. It takes many days of soaking swiss chard seeds with their hard outer seed coat to coax a sprout out.
`-So what we see with our eyes as a new beginning in Spring, is actually a result of growth unseen and hidden.

II. Lent is that time of prolonged soaking in the Holy Spirit.
Water used in Baptism, is the matter used to by the Holy spirit to create a new man in Christ
- Jesus after his victorious battle with Satan is anointed by a water baptism by John the Baptist
- Jesus first proclamation as king is a year of jubilee, to set the captives free
- Free from sin evidenced by death and slavery to become true sons and daughters
- Jesus unambiguously said His followers will do greater works than Him Jn 14:12-13

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Condescends to save and a share in His glory. America no understanding of monarchy, kingship, or heir to the king. Christ shows what that means. Share in suffering, share in His glory. Greater than Him, seems so farfetched. St. Thomas Sorrow of Christ, beautiful reflection lent, written in Tower reflecting on impending martyrdom. Agony in Garden, sweat blood, ask to pass. St. Lawrence, Christians march into catacombs singing hymns of praise. Not in spite of Christ because of Him. Lively hope, ability to do something greater.

Mothers bring new life in world. Something isn’t now, like seeds in a fallow time, for future growing. Through our cooperation hope continues.

JPII do not empty the Cross of its power points to 1 Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

"Dearly beloved, we have this common task: we must say together from East and West: Ne evacuetur Crux! (cf. 1 Cor 1:17). The cross of Christ must not be emptied of its power because if the cross of Christ is emptied of its power, man no longer has roots, he no longer has prospects: he is destroyed! This is the cry of the end of the 20th century. It is the cry of Rome, of Moscow, of Constantinople. It is the cry of all Christendom: of the Americas, of Africa, of Asia, of everyone. It is the cry of the new evangelization."(7)
[The light of the East (Orientale Lumen) has illumined the universal Church, from the moment when "a rising sun" appeared above us (Lk 1:7-8): Jesus Christ, our Lord, whom all Christians invoke as the Redeemer of man and the hope of the world. Note the ties to both the Christmas season and the beginning of the mission of Jesus]
Feeling spiritual dryness, Cross not bearer of death but tree of fruits and graces. Time in winter season, fallow, little consolation human beings can grow authentically in virtue. No real cause for hope cold, dark, yet soaking seeds, hand to plow lively confidence grounds of winter fruits of fall. Now time of virtue.