"Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts."
This verse taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is the Introit to this Mass. The Introit is the opening verse that is often recitied as the priest enters into the Church. It is from this verse that we get the name given to this fourth Sunday of Lent. We therefore call today "Laetare" Sunday which comes from the word "rejoice."
Indeed we must rejoice for time is passing by and before we know it we will rejoice on Easter morning with Christ who has triumphed over the grave. This serves a reminder to us that we must orient our life towards Christ for here we will be given a glimpse into eternal life.
In our Gospel we were given a glimpse into the man who was born blind. He represents to us the very journey that we must undergo. Through his encounter with Christ and faith that was placed within Him his eyes were opened.
Through our encounter with the life giving waters of baptism our eyes which were left blind to sin have been opened. It is for this reason that we celebrate the second scrutiny. We rejoice with this catechumen who now prepares to be baptized and thus to have her eyes opened to Christ and to His saving mercy.
May she and all of us realize that baptism is a big deal. We do rise forth from the waters of baptism unchanged, but rather we rise forth from these life giving waters created anew. Therefore, we must always keep on guard that we follow Christ and live out what was begun in us at the moment of our baptism.
Seeing that we have been baptized our eyes have been opened to Christ. He therefore continues to call out to each of us by name to come and to follow after Him. We order our life after a lot, but Christ calls out to us to order our life after Him. Lent serves as a period of preparation in order that we may come to achieve this reality.
It is for that reason that we flock to the confessional to have our sins forgiven in order that eyes may be opened to Christ. It is for this reason that we undergo practices such as fasting, almsgiving, and prayer in order that our eyes may be opened to Christ. Do we here truly desire to have our eyes opened to Christ? Or are we content with the ways of this world even if it comes at His expense?
Let us rejoice this day for we will soon celebrate anew the reality of the Resurrection of our Blessed Lord. Easter will come soon and thus we continue to journey towards this point in time. May we therefore not impede this journey of faith, but rather may we allow our eyes to be opened in order that we may see Christ more clearly by the way in which we order our life.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Sunday, March 19, 2017
3rd Sunday of Lent Year A Homily
There are so many desires that we have in this life. Yet there should be one ultimate desire and that is to develop a relationship with Christ.
The Samaritan woman is described to us as having five husbands and now is with another man. She represents to us the fact that our heart is never content because in all reality we are searching for something greater. Then she encounters Christ and states unto Him: "give me something to drink." This is precisely what we should desire for through this statement she comes to encounter Christ who fills the many longings of her heart.
What are the ways in which we have set out in order to encounter happiness? So often what we pursue leaves us empty and wanting something more. This woman kept coming to the well wanting something more. She was not and could not be content until she had encountered Christ and in return entrusted her life unto Him.
We too must come to this well and state alongside this woman: "give me something to drink." We must desire not to be filled by the passing passions of this world, but rather we must desire a relationship with Christ which is authentic and true.
Lent is a journey of conversion, a journey, which leads us to the waters of this well. It assists in seeing the many ways in which we need to turn back towards the Lord and in return allow Him to be the one who fills our thirst. This is why we must take these Lenten days so seriously for they assist us in cutting away our passions and in return making the journey towards Christ.
The woman at the well allowed herself to begin to undergo this same journey that we now make during this Lenten season. For we will soon come to encounter Christ upon the cross. Christ who thirsts for souls and offers Himself upon the cross in order to save us from sin. Also, as we pass through these Lenten days we will come to encounter Christ who has conquered the grave through the Resurrection. From the Resurrection of the Body springs forth the hope that there is something more to this vale of tears in which we now undergo.
Therefore, may we find ways to have our thirst nourished by Christ. May we foster within our life and family not the passing ways of this world, but Christ. May we devote time to prayer, the study of Sacred Scripture, the Church's doctrine, and come to know the saints of the Church. In this manner we will come to know Christ and will come to place our trust in Him. In this manner we who are thirsty will have our thirst filled by the Messiah who has come to redeem us from sin and bring meaning to our life.
The Samaritan woman is described to us as having five husbands and now is with another man. She represents to us the fact that our heart is never content because in all reality we are searching for something greater. Then she encounters Christ and states unto Him: "give me something to drink." This is precisely what we should desire for through this statement she comes to encounter Christ who fills the many longings of her heart.
What are the ways in which we have set out in order to encounter happiness? So often what we pursue leaves us empty and wanting something more. This woman kept coming to the well wanting something more. She was not and could not be content until she had encountered Christ and in return entrusted her life unto Him.
We too must come to this well and state alongside this woman: "give me something to drink." We must desire not to be filled by the passing passions of this world, but rather we must desire a relationship with Christ which is authentic and true.
Lent is a journey of conversion, a journey, which leads us to the waters of this well. It assists in seeing the many ways in which we need to turn back towards the Lord and in return allow Him to be the one who fills our thirst. This is why we must take these Lenten days so seriously for they assist us in cutting away our passions and in return making the journey towards Christ.
The woman at the well allowed herself to begin to undergo this same journey that we now make during this Lenten season. For we will soon come to encounter Christ upon the cross. Christ who thirsts for souls and offers Himself upon the cross in order to save us from sin. Also, as we pass through these Lenten days we will come to encounter Christ who has conquered the grave through the Resurrection. From the Resurrection of the Body springs forth the hope that there is something more to this vale of tears in which we now undergo.
Therefore, may we find ways to have our thirst nourished by Christ. May we foster within our life and family not the passing ways of this world, but Christ. May we devote time to prayer, the study of Sacred Scripture, the Church's doctrine, and come to know the saints of the Church. In this manner we will come to know Christ and will come to place our trust in Him. In this manner we who are thirsty will have our thirst filled by the Messiah who has come to redeem us from sin and bring meaning to our life.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
2nd Sunday of Lent Year A Homily
Peter, James, and John were taken up upon Mount Tabor and there Christ was transfigured before their midst. This serves as a glimpse into the glory which will come through the triumph of Christ upon the cross and thus too eternal life for which we now wait. We need glimpses such as this in order to continue our journey towards Christ.
It is easy for us to get caught up in the many routines of our life. The more routine that something becomes in all reality the less we have to think about what we are doing. This Lenten season breaks up the mediocrity of our life and it causes us to restore our sight towards Christ. Lent challenges us to restore our sight upon Christ and thus we must begin to detach ourself from all that holds us back from Him.
Upon the mountaintop Peter, James, and John had this wonderous experience which broke up the mediocrity of their life. They were given a glimpse into Christ's divinity and thus their sight was restored in order that they could begin to know and understand who Christ truly was.
So much leaves us blind to who Christ is, but Christ desires to take us up upon the mountaintop with Him. Thus throughout Lent we remove the many layers of our life which leave us blind to Christ and thus we begin see and understand the to whom we give all honor and glory.
It is easy for us to understand and profess that Christ was man, but we must also remember that Christ is divine. Thus Christ is God made Flesh. The God who loved us so much that He was willing to take upon Himself our human flesh and die upon the cross in order that we may be redemeed. The Transfiguration gives us a glimpse into the divinity of Christ and assists us in understanding God's manifest love for us.
Throughout Lent we journey towards the cross of our Blessed Lord. We realize that the cross is important not because a man died here, but rather because God made Flesh died upon the wood of the cross in order that we may be redeemed.
May we therefore journey upwards towards the mountaintop with Peter, James, and John in order that we may be given this glimpse into Christ's divinity and thus too the splendor which awaits us in eternal life.
May this glimpse give us reason to journey forward in our life cutting away the many distractions which are present. We cannot just remain upon the mountaintop, but we must sent forth to live and profess the Gospel that we have encountered.
May this Lenten season truly be fruitful for each of us. May actions such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving assist us along the path which leads us towards eternal life. May we grow content with this glimpse into Heavenly glory amd thus may we desire to spend eternity here. Thus may we be sent forth from here to practice, live, and cultivate our faith.
Let us head up to the mountaintop with Peter, James, and John and thus come to experience Christ in His transfigured glory.
It is easy for us to get caught up in the many routines of our life. The more routine that something becomes in all reality the less we have to think about what we are doing. This Lenten season breaks up the mediocrity of our life and it causes us to restore our sight towards Christ. Lent challenges us to restore our sight upon Christ and thus we must begin to detach ourself from all that holds us back from Him.
Upon the mountaintop Peter, James, and John had this wonderous experience which broke up the mediocrity of their life. They were given a glimpse into Christ's divinity and thus their sight was restored in order that they could begin to know and understand who Christ truly was.
So much leaves us blind to who Christ is, but Christ desires to take us up upon the mountaintop with Him. Thus throughout Lent we remove the many layers of our life which leave us blind to Christ and thus we begin see and understand the to whom we give all honor and glory.
It is easy for us to understand and profess that Christ was man, but we must also remember that Christ is divine. Thus Christ is God made Flesh. The God who loved us so much that He was willing to take upon Himself our human flesh and die upon the cross in order that we may be redemeed. The Transfiguration gives us a glimpse into the divinity of Christ and assists us in understanding God's manifest love for us.
Throughout Lent we journey towards the cross of our Blessed Lord. We realize that the cross is important not because a man died here, but rather because God made Flesh died upon the wood of the cross in order that we may be redeemed.
May we therefore journey upwards towards the mountaintop with Peter, James, and John in order that we may be given this glimpse into Christ's divinity and thus too the splendor which awaits us in eternal life.
May this glimpse give us reason to journey forward in our life cutting away the many distractions which are present. We cannot just remain upon the mountaintop, but we must sent forth to live and profess the Gospel that we have encountered.
May this Lenten season truly be fruitful for each of us. May actions such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving assist us along the path which leads us towards eternal life. May we grow content with this glimpse into Heavenly glory amd thus may we desire to spend eternity here. Thus may we be sent forth from here to practice, live, and cultivate our faith.
Let us head up to the mountaintop with Peter, James, and John and thus come to experience Christ in His transfigured glory.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
1st Sunday of Lent Year A Homily
Jesus went into the desert and there He was tempted by the devil. Adam and Eve encountered the serpent within the Garden of Eden and there they too were tempted by the devil. We now enter into this forty day period known as Lent and we too will be tempted by the devil, but most importantly we must allow our Lenten sacrifices to draw us close to Christ.
In the Book of Genesis Adam and Eve encounter the serpent. They were willing to dialogue with this serpent, but in the end the devil through His lies led them into sin. In other words, we can say that in their dialogue they were leaving the door open for sin. They were led along until they became confused and once they were wrapped up within the lies of the devil it was so easy for them to enter into sin.
We too like to dialogue with the devil. We constantly allow the door to be kept open for sin and thus it is so hard for us to disconnect ourself from its grasp. The devil likes to take advantage of our relativity and thus entrap us in his grasp.
Christ shows us another way within the Gospel. He does not allow the devil to confuse Him with his lies. Rather, Christ turns towards scripture which is finite and true in order to silence the advances of Satan. Left with our own emotions and belief we can be led astray, but if we turn towards Christ and Sacred Scripture this cannot be the case.
Therefore, we enter into this Sacred season of Lent in order that we may do penance in order that we may draw close to Christ. This season is a time for us to conquer over vice and to build up virtue. This season is a time for us to open ourselves up to the grace which is constantly being poured out upon us by God. This season is a time for us to become invested in what receive here and thus to allow it to become integrated into who we are as a human person.
Sin is not a dialogue that we can have because there is no good found there. If we dialogue with sin we leave the door open thus allowing ourself to enter into sin. Thus let us build up the virtue necessary in order that we may stand with Christ in rebuking Satan with the truth which is found within the deposit of faith.
Lent is a time not to foster this within ourselves. May we take up practices such as fasting, prayer, and almsgiving in order that we may over come temptation and grow close to Christ within this life.
In the Book of Genesis Adam and Eve encounter the serpent. They were willing to dialogue with this serpent, but in the end the devil through His lies led them into sin. In other words, we can say that in their dialogue they were leaving the door open for sin. They were led along until they became confused and once they were wrapped up within the lies of the devil it was so easy for them to enter into sin.
We too like to dialogue with the devil. We constantly allow the door to be kept open for sin and thus it is so hard for us to disconnect ourself from its grasp. The devil likes to take advantage of our relativity and thus entrap us in his grasp.
Christ shows us another way within the Gospel. He does not allow the devil to confuse Him with his lies. Rather, Christ turns towards scripture which is finite and true in order to silence the advances of Satan. Left with our own emotions and belief we can be led astray, but if we turn towards Christ and Sacred Scripture this cannot be the case.
Therefore, we enter into this Sacred season of Lent in order that we may do penance in order that we may draw close to Christ. This season is a time for us to conquer over vice and to build up virtue. This season is a time for us to open ourselves up to the grace which is constantly being poured out upon us by God. This season is a time for us to become invested in what receive here and thus to allow it to become integrated into who we are as a human person.
Sin is not a dialogue that we can have because there is no good found there. If we dialogue with sin we leave the door open thus allowing ourself to enter into sin. Thus let us build up the virtue necessary in order that we may stand with Christ in rebuking Satan with the truth which is found within the deposit of faith.
Lent is a time not to foster this within ourselves. May we take up practices such as fasting, prayer, and almsgiving in order that we may over come temptation and grow close to Christ within this life.
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