Jesus has forewarned us that anyone who exalts himself will be humbled and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted. To climb this ladder of humility to Heaven takes discipline. We must be patient and persevere quietly through all afflictions.
In our dying breath Jesus won’t ask our rationale for any of our poor choices. He will ask:
“Why were you willing to risk losing Me for eternity?
Each year around this time I start planning for Lent. What shall I give up? What shall I take on? Continually grasping to worldly things to console emotions and appease passions is self-punishing: we punish ourselves by stepping away from His grace. Jesus is the remedy.
February is a month of transitions: late winter preparing for early spring; Lent preparing for Jesus’ passion and death. It begins, however, with a celebration of the return of God to the temple: The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.