A few days ago, I was talking to young people who have decided to try to make the most of Lent this year. One of their concerns was what to do if they were to break their Lenten promises at some point. "Will the whole Lent be ruined then?" I encouraged them, assuring them that this was certainly not the case, because as long as God gives us another day, even a single new moment, we can change the attitude of our hearts and, if we have fallen, with His help, rise again and return to Him: “For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

The Gospel for the last Sunday before Lent tells of a blind man whose sight Jesus restored, and of Jesus’ disciples who, in a spiritual sense, were even blinder than that blind man. When Jesus told them about the suffering, death, and resurrection that awaited Him in Jerusalem, “they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken”.

After Jesus had told the people the parable of the Sower, His disciples asked Him, “What might this parable be?” Jesus answered, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”

One of the most sublime moments in the history of the Olympics took place in Barcelona in 1992. The British sprinter Derek Redmond won the first round of the 400-meter race with the fastest time and was on course to win his quarter-final. Unfortunately, 250 meters before the finish, his hamstring tore. He tried to run on, but the pain was so intense that it was almost impossible. Seeing this, his father ran to him, despite the efforts of security guards and officials to stop him. Derek later recalled that his father told him: “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to put yourself through this.” But Derek insisted. He had to finish. “Well, then,” his father said, “we’re going to finish this together.” He put his son's arm around his neck and walked him to the finish line, holding him tightly.

Saint Paul uses an interesting metaphor in today's Epistle, speaking of virtues as different garments worn one on top of the other. These garments are: a heart of compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another, and charity.