Christ was poor so that we might be rich. Christ’s poverty enriches and makes us more like him. Pope Francis this Lenten season taps into this scripture message.

However, we all know that if poverty were a choice, not many would want to experience it even for a day, especially here in Nigeria where wealth is worshipped and adored.

Yet, the Pope has chosen to make poverty the theme of this year’s Lenten season. Pope Francis draws our attention to poverty, particularly Christ’s poverty, and what it should mean to us as Christians.

The Pontiff explains that Jesus “became poor, so that by his poverty we might become rich,” according to the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. (cf. 2 Cor 8:9)

Pope Francis further explains that the poverty by which Jesus frees and enriches us is his way of loving us, his way of being our neighbour, just as the Good Samaritan was neighbour to the man left half dead by the side of the road. The Holy Father reassures us that the poverty of Christ “is the greatest wealth”.

Not many Nigerians will buy that because materialism has permeated the soul of our society. Money is everything and most people go to great lengths to get it, even at the expense of others. The consequences of our unbridled quest for wealth are all around us – the decay in our society and gradual destruction of our economy.

However, Pope Frances teaches that we should imitate our Master, always but particularly during this Lenten period.  We Christians are called to “confront” not consolidate the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to “touch” it not scuff at it, to make it our own not distance ourselves from it, and more so, to take practical steps to alleviate it.

Finally, the Pope warns that ‘when power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity and sharing.”

The Pope’s Lenten message could not have been at a more appropriate time than now, when our poverty and insecurity as a nation appear to be worsening. Greed, exploitation and injustice continue to fuel corruption, with rising fuel, food and transportation costs, sending many of our brothers and sisters into penury.

Lent is a fitting time for sober reflection, self examination and self-denial. We would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without the dimension of penance. “I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt,” said the Pope.

Let us avail ourselves of the abundant grace on offer during this Lenten season and bare our hearts to God through repentance and self –denial. Let us participate effectively in the various Lenten activities and the sacraments, including Stations of the Cross, charity work and confessions and as becoming of true Catholics.

Nobody has enough grace to last them for a life time- we all need to continually ask for and seek to draw from the abundant grace on offer, especially during this period. We must remember and identify with Christ, the eternal Son of God, who became poor that we might become rich.

The three pillars of lent, which are fasting, charity –alms giving and prayers must be fully embraced by every Christian as we encourage one another to seek peace with God and take on the nature of Christ whose poverty enriches us.

Let every individual Catholic and Church community undertake a fruitful Lenten journey, bearing in mind the death, resurrection and soon coming of our Christ, our Lord and Master.

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