Abp. Costa: Lent, 40 days to combat selfishness

The Archbishop of Chittagong issues his message in preparation for Easter. Lent is "the right time to renew our faith" and to "perform works of mercy". "We are one body in Christ. Therefore we cannot be indifferent to others who believe in Christ ".

Chittagong (AsiaNews) - Lent is the time "to fight self-centeredness and selfishness that wanders in and out of our hearts”, says Msgr. Moses M. Costa, Archbishop of Chittagong, in his message for Lent. Citing the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, he recalls that Lent is the right time to renew our faith and "to receive God's favor" (2 Corinthians 6: 2). It is also time, he adds, "to remember the infinite love of God and his care for us".

In this regard, Msgr. Costa also quotes the Gospel of John: " For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life”(John 3:16) “The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them”(John 15:13)”

“We can take three recent lessons of Pope Francis as advices to renewal our faith, says Archbishop Moses. Referring “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one part is praised, all other parts share its happiness. (1 Corinthians 12:26), Archbishop Moses mentions that we are one body of Christ as his believers. Those believe on Christ they are also part of the body. Therefore we cannot be indifferent to others who believe in Christ. If one part of our body gets pain, whole part of the body also be pained. So there is no place in the Church for indifferent to others. “For our weakness as human being, sometimes we become indifference, at that time, our love also become weaker for God. Those are real believers and gracious of God and others ’, God bless them. This scenery will come on Holy Thursday during the Lent Jesus wash feet of his disciples” he adds. 

“Christian church is a Holy united society. Here doesn’t have place for self-centricity. Here nobody can be owner, but he/she shares his assets with others.  Proper sharing of assets is essential subject for our renewal” read the pastoral Letter

It also read, during the lent, should ask myself, our society, our organization what is my or our experience as Christ’s body’s part. Do we share as Christ’s body’s part to others? Do we share our assets those are needy or less important person? I call to all head of Christian organization and Christian society to love needy instead of selfishness. Pastoral responsible is to bring all to God’s love.

Archbishop Moses M. Costa who is also Secretary General of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh, says in his pastoral letter, “Indifferent is now a big temptation. Now-a-days, various sad news make us upset. And at that case, we feel we cannot help. We become confused for various news of society. In these cases, what we can do? Firstly, we can pray in church as pilgrimage of this earth. One voice prayer is very powerful, should not give it less importance”.

“I think who is selfish he/she can be victim of indifference,” says Archbishop Moses. Archbishop Moses ends his pastoral letter by asks some questions, “Do I know sufferings of parts of body of Christian society? What I can do? Where is my brothers and sisters? Where my parents are? Where my children are, neighbors? And how can I care them?” .He concludes: “We should do work of mercy those live near and those live far. Church’s has many organizations of mercy; we can work of mercy by these organizations. “Lent is a suitable time when we can help to others because we all are members of one human family. Merciful heart doesn’t mean weak heart”.

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• Msgr. Costa
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• Lent
• works of mercy
• selfishness
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• self-centeredness