"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

I recognize that these words of Jesus are a favorite quote for many of us. Yet upon reflection, these words are a challenge to understand.

Jesus promises that the discipline of living according to his teaching will bring freedom, for he is the Son who reveals to us the human way of God.

The freedom which Jesus speaks about can be described as freedom from fear, freedom to accept ourselves as we are, freedom to accept God's great desire to forgive and to be intimate with us, freedom to accept God's unconditional personal love.

Lent is a time to rededicate ourselves to the truth, to listen more deeply to God's word, to walk with Jesus more attentively and to seek the truth so we can be free to take action when we see another who is suffering prejudice or injustice.