2nd Sunday of Lent Year B Homily

As we enter into this 2nd Sunday of Lent we must realize that the scandal of the cross is quickly approaching. It was for this reason that Christ took with Him His apostles: Peter, James, and John unto the mountaintop to be transfigured in their sight. Very soon they would be touched by the scandal of the cross, their faith would be shaken, and thus they were given this glimpse into Heavenly glory in order that they may hold fast solid in their faith.

Our Gospel instructs that “he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white.” We also hear the familiar voice of the Father which was heard also at the Baptism of the Lord: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” What they see here is our Lord in all His Heavenly glory and the reality of the proclamation that He is the Son of God as we profess the second Person of the Holy Trinity.

This glimpse into Heaven that they received was important for it calmed any fear that was present within their heart. As the cloud came over them and was lifted from their midst they were left in the presence of Christ who is the Son of God, who dies upon the cross to forgive us of our sins, on third day rose again, and then ascended to His Father in Heaven. Left behind were Moses and Elijah for now the one to whom they had pointed towards had finally arrived in the form of the Messiah.

Surely no one here thinks that the cross to be a beautiful object. It is an object of death and rejection and yet through this instrument of death and rejection we have been set free. So many wear the cross around their neck and yet want nothing to do with its embrace upon their own life. As Christians we must come to embrace the cross for ourself and we can only do this if we keep in mind this glimpse of the Transfiguration of our Blessed Lord.

To turn on the television is to be filled with glimpses of violence and unrest. These glimpses can leave us filled with fear, but through this glimpse into the Transfiguration we are being instructed to be not afraid. The cross peaks it ugly head into our life through sickness and lack of health for ourself or for one whom we love. The cross peaks its ugly head into our life through the uncertainty of money and the necessities of life which are necessary for our human flourishing. The cross peaks its ugly head into our life when feel abandoned, alone, and afraid and know not the twist nor turn that life may take.

Truly the scandal of the cross is real and thus each of us need to receive this same glimpse into the Transfiguration for from it we receive a glimpse into Heaven. May this glimpse into Heaven aid us in our earthily journey that we must now undergo. That despite the twist or turn that we may always remain faithful to our Lord and not give up hope. We now undergo this Lenten journey in order that we may come to rejoice with our Blessed Lord who triumphs over the wood of the cross through His glorious Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven

1st Sunday of Lent Year B Homily

In the early chapters of the Book of Genesis we are told about God who creates all things out of love. Despite this reality humanity turned itself away from this loving God. Therefore a new covenant is established through Noah which leads us back into relationship with God. This passage concerning Noah is a reminder of God who desires to restore that level of friendship with us despite the sinfulness that is brought about within our life.

This past Wednesday we entered into the Lenten season. It is on Ash Wednesday that we dare to bare upon our forehead the mark of ashes made into the form of a cross. These ashes placed upon our forehead remind us that we are sinners who are in need of the mercy of God. They remind us of our own mortality and how we will eventually come to die. They remind us of our need to renew within ourself our relationship with God.

In 1st Peter we are reminded of the connection that exists between the waters of the great flood and the waters of baptism. In baptism we were cleansed from our sinfulness and were incorporated into the life of the Church. Sin sets out to destroy this relationship with God and thus we enter into Lent in order to renew this relationship which sin sets out to destroy.

In our Gospel we are given the example of Christ who following His baptism in the Jordan sets out into the desert to fast and pray for 40 days. This is the perfect example for us because in the season of Lent we too set out to fast and pray for a period of 40 days. Throughout the course of the Lenten season we are being invited to renew our relationship with God which has been hurt by the weight of sin. Throughout the course of Lent we are to set our sight upon the Sacrament of Baptism and thus desire to always remain pure and blameless in the sight of the Lord.

May we thus courageously take up the practices of fasting, praying, and almsgiving during this Lenten season. Through such practices may we come to purify our heart and soul in order that we may become better disciples of the Lord. If we are to renew ourself in such a manner we must also come to entrust ourself to the Lord’s infinite mercy. On Tuesday our parish will hold its Lenten Penance Service in which many priests will be present to hear confessions. If you have been away from the sacrament for a long time or discern that you are in the state of mortal sin I implore you to rush to this sacrament with haste.

God desires that we follow after Him and His commands. God created each us of us out of love, but how much do we love God in return? As God created this covenant with Noah which restored this relationship that had been destroyed by sin, so too must we not allow sin to destroy our relationship with God. The waters of the flood brought about purification as the waters of baptism brought about purification in our life. Let us renew within ourself during this period of 40 days this relationship with our loving God by coming to “repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Ash Wednesday Homily

Today we begin the Lenten season and thus we dare to dawn ashes upon our forehead. This is a public statement that we are sinners who are in need of God’s mercy. These ashes also serve a reminder that we will die and thus we should begin to order our life after the Gospel now.

From Wimot-Buxton: “Once was I wont to pluck earthly joys with eager hand; and now I am dust and ashes, the food of worms. Be mindful then to cherish thy soul rather than thy body since the one is immortal, the other perishes.”

As we embark upon this Lenten season may we come to this realization and thus desire to put our relationship to sin behind us as we dare to chase after the Gospel.

6th Sunday of OT Year B Homily

In our Gospel we encounter a leper who was made clean and thus returned to the confines of the community. We must remember that leprosy was an incurable condition. As was pointed out in the Book of Leviticus, leprosy was a great risk to the community and thus “he shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”

Somehow this man had made his way into the city and here he came to humble himself in the presence of the Lord. Due to this man’s faith Christ stretched out His hand, touched him, and said: “I do will it. Be made clean.” It would of been easy for this man struck with leprosy to allow his condition to keep him separated from the community, but he did not accept that fate and went in search for the one who would bring him healing. Not only bodily, but to the community.

We must realize that this passage serves as a reminder of our own sinfulness and how through the mercy of our Lord we are lifted out of it and made clean. Through sin we separate ourself from the community and from Christ. We cannot assume that we will be forgiven, but rather we must pursue Christ and His mercy in order that we may be made clean.

Some claim that venial sin is not harmful and yet Saint Augustine instructs: “While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call light: if you take for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession.”

If we truly love Christ then we would take all sin as being serious and find ways in which we can move ourself back towards that which was begun in us at the moment of our baptism. For sin hurts our relationship with the community and Christ. At our baptism all sin was washed away especially that of original sin. Through baptism our soul was in the words of the Psalmist made whiter then snow.

On February 14th the world comes to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day, but we as a Church also begin the Lenten season with our celebration of Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday as well as Good Friday we are called to fast and to abstain from meat. The season of Lent must be taken seriously because through it we set our sight upon the waters of baptism and our desire to renew each day that which was begun there.

If you have not already done so I implore you to begin to pray concerning this ever approaching Lenten season. What ways will you pray, fast, and give alms in order to put to death any disordered passions which have grown up within your soul? Also, let us not forget about the Sacrament of Confession. Not just making use of it during the penance services of Advent and Lent, but making use of it throughout our life. To run to it when in the state of mortal sin, to frequent it when in the state of venial sin, and to come to our Lord who through His mercy stretches out His hand, touches us, and states: “I do will it. Be made clean.”