If the season of Advent is about preparing for the arrival of the expected one and meditating on the promised Messiah, then the season of Lent is about looking at oneself in the light of the self-revelation of the Messiah. Though Lent itself is 'only' a commemoration of the actual death and resurrection of Our Lord, we still are in an advantageous position because we have had 2000 years to contemplate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who witnessed the first occurrence of the Paschal mystery must have been puzzled by the paradox of Christ's message - love unto death.

Today's first reading vividly captures how Esther who was conscious of her human dependence on God, put her trust entirely in him. We, too, who have experienced the salvific love of Our Lord, desire to have such a faith in God. It is like throwing oneself into the ocean of God's mercy. The Gospel reading is an answer to our prayer - for no one who has such faith will go empty handed. All our prayers will surely be answered, provided that what we ask is what God desires for us.