Sunday, March 7, 2010

Homily – March 7, 2010 – Third Sunday of Lent

+ From the very first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday the theme has been the same, and it will continue to be so up to a Friday in April that we call "Good." REPENT, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!

How many times we have heard this command? How many years? How many occasions have these words and these sentiments gone into our ears to be processed by our hearts and minds and souls? And how many times has it actually made a difference?

It is easy to think that since these words are 2000 years old that they apply mostly or even only to the people who lived back then, when Jesus lived. Not so! They apply equally, if not moreso to us – who have 2000 years of history behind us regarding the truth involved here. And the truth is this: the only way to be included in the kingdom of heaven that is now truly at hand is to REPENT: to actually and really feel sorry for one's sins and transgressions against God, others and self. What is absolutely necessary here is the "voluntariness" of the action of "repentance." It has to be done with no coercion, with no force, with no fear – but rather out a sense of humility, true remorse and heartfelt love for God – and a willingness to change for the better in the future! This makes the act of repentance perfect!

As we are now almost midway through Lent – how has this word "repent" rattled around in our souls this year? Have we taken it as seriously as we should?

God has such amazing things in store for those who do repent. The first reading shows the beginnings of the plan for freeing the people of Israel from slavery under the Egyptians – as a sign of the freeing of all mankind's slavery to sin which would be accomplished by Jesus many centuries later!

But these same saved people turned against God and rebelled against him later in the desert and God was not pleased at all with most of them, and they were struck down in the desert. The second reading tells us, as well as the Corinthians for whom it was originally written, that just because we are in the safe rock-like confines of the Church, and are baptized into Christ, and eat and drink spiritual food and drink of his own Body and Blood we ought not take things for granted and think that we are standing secure. For so long as we are alive nothing is completely guaranteed for us. St. Paul tells us that it is only after we have crossed the finish line – in the kingdom – that we can rest – and hope to receive a glorious crown that has been reserved for us.

But we cannot even hope to do that unless we continue daily, weekly, monthly, yearly to REPENTto turn away from sin, to turn toward Jesus, and his Way, and Truth and Life – and then REJOICE in the mercy, compassion and forgiveness that is shown us!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand – in Jesus, in his Church, in us who are the Church, in the Sacrament of Eucharist, in the Sacrament of Penance, in our prayer, in our worship, in our commemoration of the events of our salvation! May the continuation and conclusion of this Lenten Season be all that it can be for us because we have repented in a deeper way than ever before – even gone to confession if we needed to – and can proclaim God's kindness quite freely, because we have experienced it and we believe it! God bless you!

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