I now better appreciate the sacrifice which our Blessed Lord made for me by dying on the cross and the wonderful future which awaits me in the fullness of life in heaven. Every day I have reason to praise and offer prayers of thanksgiving for his mercy and love. The Season of Lent is also an occasion to grow and progress in the love of my neighbour. Here again Penance or Self Denial plays a part. In and through the care and love I demonstrate to my neighbour I deepen my love of God.
Love of neighbour is the flip side of the same coin.
On two occasions I have mentioned that Love of God and Love of Neighbour is only achieved through the third Lenten practice of Penance or Self-Denial. On the face of it, it doesn t seem to make much sense. She might think he was a bit soft in the head and tell him to get on his bike . The sacrifices provide the wherewithal to purchase the gift. In the same way, our Lenten self-denial is the coin with which we purchase the two expressions of the Great Commandment the Law of Christ the Law of Love.