False prophets who Pope Francis calls “snake charmers” and “charlatans” lead us astray. They mesmerize God’s children who then mistake true 
happiness for momentary pleasure ending in slavery to profit or become trapped in loneliness. Many young people enticed by other “swindlers” buy into the “panacea of drugs,” disposable relationships,” “dishonest gain,” or a “virtual” existence. Thus, people are robbed of “what is most precious: dignity, freedom and the ability to love,” he says.
A Cold Heart
After recognizing the false prophets to which each of us has fallen prey the question Pope Francis would like us to reflect on this Lent is: “What are the signs that indicate that our love is beginning to cool?” Above all else, he says, “what destroys charity is greed for money.” Rejection of God follows, and “we prefer our own desolation rather than the comfort found in his word and the sacraments.” As a result, even creation bears “silent witness” to hearts gone cold. Refuse litters the earth, the seas are polluted with the bodies of “countless shipwrecked victims of forces immigration,” and the heavens meant to sing God’s praises “are rent by engines raining down” instruments of death.
What are we to do?
The Church offers us the Lenten practices of prayer, almsgiving and fasting which Pope Francis calls a “soothing remedy”. Prayer allows us to eradicate “secret lies” and “self-deception,” and we find the “consolation God offers,” he says. Almsgiving frees us from greed; it helps us regard others as brothers and sisters. “How I would like almsgiving to become a genuine style of life for each of us!” Fasting “weakens our tendency to violence” reviving “our desire to obey God,” who alone can satisfy our hunger.
24 Hours for the Lord
The Pope reminds us that although the flame of charity may die in our hearts, it never dies in God’s. He invites us to participate in the “24 Hours for the Lord”, on Friday and Saturday, the 9th and 10th of March.
To learn more about the “24 Hours for the Lord” please visit: http://www.pcpne.va/content/pcpne/en.html
To read the full text of Pope Francis’ message: http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/02/06/180206c.html