Ash Wednesday Homily

Today we receive a smudge of ash upon our foreheads as we are told, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” This mark of ash is not a badge of honor, but a reminder that we are in need of a Savior. In our Gospel Jesus warned against “practicing our righteousness before others to be seen by them.” This mark of ash means nothing if we are not willing to go further and begin to go to work on what is found disordered within us. Actions such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not done in order that we may be seen, but that true transformation may take place within us day by day. Through the reception of these ashes let us call out to the mercy of God who sees what is hidden and invites us to return to Him.

6th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

In only three days time we will begin the sacred season of Lent. Here we are being asked to give our “yes” to God and our “no” to the world. This season calls us away from our many excuses and justifications in order that we might encounter a total conversion of heart that is authentic and true.

Lent is a serious season that we must enter into with full intentionality. Our Lenten resolves should assist us in growing in the virtuous life and away from the ways of the world. Through the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we give our “no” to any pride found within us and our “yes” to our dependence upon God.

From our gospel we were told, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.” Through such a statement Jesus is inviting us to a radical simplicity of heart that leaves no room for the evil one to enter in and lead us astray. A “yes” or “no” cannot be just a “maybe.”

It is easy to say “yes” to prayer in so far as we aren’t too tired. We are willing to say “no” to a particular sin, but are also willing to keep the door cracked just in case we want to revisit it at another point in time. We cannot hide behind such excuses, but must set out in order to allow the light of Christ to enter in and to illuminate our soul.

On Ash Wednesday we will be told, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Repentance is a “no” which is given to the ways of the world in order that we may give our “yes” unto God. Hopefully the mark of ashes that we dare to receive upon our forehead are not a ritualistic smudge, but an outward sign of our desire to cultivate virtue and thus give our “yes” unto God.

Let us prayerfully consider the full import of saying “no” during the season of Lent. “No” to meat on Fridays or “No” to a habit is train our will in order that it may always follow after God. To give our “no” and to grumble or look for loopholes to get around is to look at this season as a legalistic chore instead of an opportunity to grow in virtue.

Let us also prayerfully consider the full import of saying “yes” during the season of Lent. Our “yes” given to an increase of prayer, a particular sacrifice, or an increase of alms should be a total gift. The giving of “yes” does not need to be posted all over the internet or done in order to be seen by others. Rather, our “yes” is giving as opportunity to grow in virtue.

At the Annunciation Mary gave her “yes” unto God and at Gethsemane Jesus gave His “yes” as He underwent His sorrowful Passion. These were each surrenders to the will of God. May we too enter fully into the Lenten season in order that we may surrender all to God and use this season which will soon be set before us in order that our “yes” may mean “yes” and our “no” mean “no.”

5th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

On this 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time we also come to observe what was anciently known as Sexagesima Sunday. This name is derived from the Latin word “Sixtieth” for being 60 days prior to Easter. This Sunday, as well as the one before it and after it, serve as a reminder to the faithful that the coming of Lent is neigh.

We also must come to this realization for the Lenten season will soon be upon us. If we do not take care to enter into these most sacred of days then we will find ourself in the midst of Lent without any knowledge of how we go there or where we are going. It is the purpose of Lent to prepare us for the coming of Easter through the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Our reading from Isaiah 58 provided us with a good “pre-Lenten” checklist. This reading sets our sight towards providing for the needs of others and removing “false accusation and malicious speech” from our midst. Through the undergoing of such goals we allow the light to rise in the midst of darkness.

In the Gospel of Saint Matthew such light is spoken of. It is this light which cannot remain  hidden under a bushel basket, but it is set upon a lampstand for the world to see. Likewise, through our intentional entering into Lent we allow the penitential character of this season to take hold of us in order that we may come to renew our baptismal promises that have grown dim.

Over the course of the next two weeks let us identify the bushel baskets that we put in our way. These are the habits, grudges, or distractions that hide our Christian identity. By the time that we come to celebrate Easter may our light not be just a flicker, but a beacon that the whole world is able to see. Let us intentionally enter into Lent to prepare ourself to be a true disciple of the Lord.

4th Sunday of OT Year A Homily

The Prophet Zephaniah presents us with the image of a people who have been restored. They are restored not by the pursuit of wealth or power, but through their interior transformation. Therefore, God promises that a remnant will be left behind who will exhibit the virtue of humility through their willingness to not speak lies or practice deceit.

This vision that has been given to us through Zephaniah finds its fulfillment in the Beatitudes. Jesus climbed this mountain in order to speak and in doing so He looked out upon such a remnant. It was these people who were found to be poor in spirit, meek, and pure of heart. It is these individuals through such attributes who exhibit a freedom that the world cannot give.

The prophet stresses that this remnant speaks with no lies when pasturing their flock. As people of faith one cannot live with a sense of duplicity. One cannot live a double life where they say one thing, and yet do another. Those in this remnant act with great integrity because their faith has been integrated into who they are as a human person.

As Catholics we must be willing to be this remnant in the midst of this world. Through our baptism we are called to a specific way of life. Through our hunger and thirst for righteousness as shown in the Beatitudes we begin to reflect the very character of Christ Himself. By living out our life in such a way we become a contradiction to what is often exhibited in our culture.

As we approach Christ present with us in the Eucharist let us be willing to take upon ourself such simplicity. Wherever there is any duplicity found within us let it come to be pruned away through Christ’s mercy. Let us be willing to be this remnant in the midst of this world in order that we may always come to live out the faith without compromise.