The Second Reading for the Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Lent drives home again a repeating theme for Lent, that God is merciful to all who turn to Him in repentance over their sins:

Eph 2:4-10: “Brothers and sisters:
God, who is rich in mercy,
because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
brought us to life with Christ — by grace you have been saved —,
raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come
He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast.
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works
that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them.”

(Via USCCB.)

Just a note for anyone who thinks that the comments about “by grace we are saved” and that it excludes good works: it merely means that God’s grace saves us in the end, and that we cannot merit Heaven by our own works. In other words, we cannot “buy” our way into Heaven by doing good things. However, good works are evidence of our Faith, and is our response to God’s grace working in us. Good works are the “fruits” of our Faith.

Just a thought.

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