Lent must bring us closer to God to defeat the burdens around us
As Christians around the world observe the start of the auspicious Lenten period, I take this opportunity to offer our national community a blessed, solemn and spiritually enriching time of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
Lent is not only an important observance in the Christian community but rather the national community because the spiritual growth, solemn reflection, prayer and charitable works undertaken by our Christian brothers and sisters have always uplifted the nation.
This sacrifice, repentance, generosity and spiritual journey should inspire us all as a country to become closer to God in our individual lives to overcome the challenges facing us.
I have often found great inspiration in the words of the Psalmist: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Therefore, to our Christian community, as you embark upon this spiritually invaluable journey, as you follow the example set by the Lord Jesus Christ as he fasted for 40 days, I pray that your faith is rewarded and your relationship with God strengthened.
May God bless our nation,
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Leader of the Opposition