Cardinal Suharyo: Lent is a time to do good deeds, express concern

Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, the President of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) and the Archbishop of Jakarta (DKI), issued a Lenten pastoral letter 2022 with the theme "Upholding Human Dignity: The More You Love, The More You Care, The More You Witness."

During Lent, Cardinal Suharyo asks all Indonesian Catholics, especially those in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, to use the time to become more and more grateful. This attitude is an excellent way to start the season of Lent.

The prelate says that the love of God that we feel and are grateful for will continuously renew our lives to grow more and more in harmony with our dignity as God's image.

Cardinal Suharyo emphasized that there are many faces of Jesus that we can find in the Scriptures to imitate.

“By diligently doing good,” said Cardinal Suharyo, “we declare our dignity as the image of God and realize our aspirations as a people to love more, care more, and witness more.”

"Good deeds are a form of our love and care and a form of our testimony," said Cardinal Suharyo.

Cardinal Suharyo invited the faithful to be creative in doing good.

"What good deeds should we do in our concrete environment that can reflect our dignity as disciples of Christ and at the same time glorify the dignity of others?" says Cardinal Suharyo.

Cardinal Suharyo acknowledged that there are times people get tired of doing good deeds. He urged the faithful to remember this advice from the Apostle Paul.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, stand firm, do not waver, and always be active in God's work (meaning do good)! For you know that in fellowship with the Lord, your labors are not in vain "(1 Corinthians 15:58).