What We Refuse to See
The crowd demanded Jesus show us more proof. We do the same thing every day.
Dear friends —
Letters from Leo is publishing daily Lenten reflections through Easter, available exclusively to paid subscribers.
Each meditation will explore what it means to follow Jesus more faithfully in the midst of American civic and political life — not as partisans first, but as Christians whose consciences are shaped by the Cross.
Lent is a season of repentance, renewal, and resolve.
It is a time to confront our idols, strip away our illusions, and allow the light of God’s redeeming love to search and purify our hearts.
I hope you will walk this forty-day road with me — as your brother and fellow sinner — embracing prayer, sacrifice, and deeper conversion, and allowing the God of liberation to claim every corner of our lives and our public witness in an age of creeping authoritarianism.
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” — (Psalm 95:8)
I checked the news this morning before starting my day job, which is a habit I had hoped to break this Lent.
A Pentagon probe confirmed what independent investigators had already established: a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile likely struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab, Iran, on the first day of Operation Epic Fury. At least 168 people were killed. Most of them were schoolgirls between the ages of seven and twelve.
I read that, closed the tab, opened my email, and began work.
The deeper we get into Lent, the more the readings refuse to let us do this. Today’s Gospel is about exactly this kind of evasion.
