Touching Message from His Eminence Antoine Cardinal Kambanda during Lent time

His Eminence Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, the Archbishop of Kigali, reminds that when Catholics enter Lent time, they should take care and be characterized by prayer, fasting and generous actions.

As of Wednesday, February 17, 2021, “Ash Wednesday”, Catholics have begun Lent time which is a special time in church.

Lent is a forty-day journey that Christians make in commemoration of the forty years God’s people have travelled from Egyptian bondage to the land God had promised them.

By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities

Archbishop Antoine Cardinal Kambanda said that in these times Christians should have enough time to pray because it is the main activity that unites them with God and unites them with the light which is the power that glorifies God.

“It’s time to spend more time with God. Let us draw near to God, give thanks to the Lord for what He has done for us, request apologies where we have disappointed him, sinned against him, abused what He has given us. Praise him for his glory, and for the love of God that grows in our prayers.” His Eminence Antoine Cardinal Kambanda said.

Cardinal Kambanda also said that fasting is a time of liberation from the chains that bind Christians and prevent them from fellowship with God and fasting which means sacrifice.

“Being greedy is a sign of selfishness. In selfishness, in loving our own things more than God’s, gluttony, betrayal, are all contained in this sign of the greediness. Fasting represents victory to liberate ourselves from this greediness and selfishness.” He added

He also said that in these times of COVID-19, which has disturbed many things, Christians are required to share the little they have with those who don’t have.

Cardinal Kambanda said that for a Christian to do so is not being glorified by world, for that glory ends in days, but to do so in humility so that God alone may be glorified.

Especially the journey a Christian must make, is the journey from the bondage and darkness of sin to the light of righteousness and that light is none other than Jesus.