Name: Edison Henriquez-Pena ’18CP
Title: Graduate Student, Class of 2020
Department/College: The Peter J. Tobin College os Business
Scripture of the Day: Kings 5:1-5ab; Psalm 42, Lk. 4:24-30
As I reflect on today’s gospel, I started thinking about my past life experiences. For about three years in high school, I was part of a youth group at my local church. My friends and I would attend the meetings every Sunday—mostly because of the food and other friends who were there.
However, after a while, I started to develop connections to what I was experiencing in the youth group. Eventually, less of my best friends started showing up to the youth group meetings, but I kept going. A while later, I became a leader for the youth group. Although my friends respected it, they never understood why I was still there. I was also fortunate to lead a few retreats.
Going to church was an important part of my life, and eventually distance grew between me and my best friends. Yet, I gained many new friends in the youth group who recognized the importance and value of God in our lives. This was something I knew would benefit me in tremendously ways—something I may not even have known then.
As people who are perfectly imperfect, and especially during this Lenten season, we often try to modify our behavior to be better in the world and for the world.
For me, the biggest takeaway from this year's Lenten period is that I need to repent and truly be sorry for my sins—all year round.
Just like in high school, I have to recognize and remember to invite God into all of my spaces. My youth group experience did not happen overnight. I simply put my trust in the Holy Spirit to change my heart, and then allowed God to do the rest.
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:16–18).
Read more reflections from Come Back to Me: Lenten Reflections from St. John’s University.