Fr. Michael’s Lenten Presentation 3/13/24
+LENTEN OBSERVANCE AND PERSEVERING IN IT—-3 March 2024
On March 3rd, our Fr Carlos gave a homily for the 3rd Sunday in Lent. It had to do with the Scriptural readings of the day, especially the gospel of John 2:13-25 all about Jesus going into the Temple and becoming upset with the vendors and money changers, turning the Temple into a place of business, economic opportunity in stead of worship that it was supposed to be.
When those in authority see this taking place, they ask Jesus by what authority he has for doing this. Jesus tells them that if they destroy this temple, referring to his own body, he will raise it up again in three days. Jesus shakes these authority figures out of their way of thinking, out of what they think the Temple to be, into thinking of the Temple in a whole new light. There are all kinds of implications that we can draw from this and I would like to focus on one of them in particular, that of the way Jesus sees his Body as the Temple of God. As Christians we have all been called to be living members of this holy Temple of His Body, persons who live as the children of God.
What Lent invites us to is a deepening awareness of our calling to be daughters and sons of God, persons who live by the life of the Holy Spirit wherever we may be, in the midst of whatever we may be doing. Our path through this life is just that, a movement toward a much fuller and more abundant life. The steps we take each day can make all the difference in the world if we are clearly focused, know what we are looking for during this time of transition. If we focus on ourselves, what we want, what makes us comfortable can all too easily distract us from what is of lasting and eternal value.
This is why St Benedict in chapter 49 of his Rule says that “the life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent.” During this time, we are to keep our manner of life “most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times. This we can do in a fitting manner by refusing to indulge evil habits and by devoting ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial.” As Benedict then goes on to say: “In other words, let each one deny himself some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing.” As I copy these words, I found myself asking what he means by looking “forward to Easter with joy and spiritual longing?” We are all craving deep down within ourselves to share more and more in Christ’s own risen life, in that life of the Spirit where we partake in God’s very own divine life, to where we reflect this life to all those around us.
Through the grace of Baptism, we have come to know what it is to be made in the very image and likeness of God. I think we all too easily forget our own potential, forget the wonderful capacity each of us has, to live as the very sons and daughters of God. We lose touch with how we have become the very beloved of God. If only we can remain mindful of how gifted we are through the tender mercy of God, could only be aware each moment of our lives what it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with the Love that flows out from the very inner Trinitarian life of God.
I’m writing this the morning of March 5th shortly after we celebrated the Eucharist during which we heard from the gospel of St Matthew of how Peter asked Jesus how often must he forgive his brother or sister, “as many as seven times?” And Jesus tells him no “not only seven times but seventy-seven time” or without any limit. If only we can pause enough to reflect on what Jesus is saying, for he is telling Peter to forgive anyone who sins against him, continually and to take no offence no matter how much this person may harm him.
What our Lenten Observance is intended to do is to free our hearts from all hatred, from all that alienates us from one another and the world around us. One does not have listen or watch much of the News these days to know how critical this has become with the terrible wars between Israel and the Palestinians, between Ukraine and Russia, the number of people suffering from malnutrition of the absence of any land or shelter in which to live. The amount of violence in our own country, the effects of global warming, the growing divide between rich and poor, the political unrest as we prepare for November’s presidential election. What an enormous difference it would make if we simply accepted one another as brothers and sisters of the same family, as persons seeking to use their varied and special gifts for the good of all. Just accepting the grace of loving forgiveness toward us and others would bring this about in countless ways. How important it is then, that we as Christians, let our hearts be filled with the loving mercy of God so that we may become leavening in the whole loaf of the human family. What a huge difference it would make in each of our families or communities, if we let this loving forgiveness pervade the whole of our daily lives.
Dr Jane Thibault who is a specialist in assisting the elderly of our society, was recently with us. In a conversation I had with her, she reminded me of what happened to St Therese when one of her Sisters in the Carmelite community she lived in, was very trying of her patience in various ways. Therese showed her such love and kindness despite the impatience she was tempted to give into, that at one point this Sister asked Therese why she loved her so much? What a wonderful example of what can take place in our world when we allow the Love of God prevail!
So let me suggest two things that will help us to persevere in our Lenten Observance. The first is to let yourself become more aware of how blessed you are as a child of God, how capable you are of manifesting the gifts of the Holy Spirit, those of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Made in the image and likeness of God, your ability to let these works of the Holy Spirit become manifest as you surrender to divine grace is what will make you ever more fruitful in daily life with family, friends, community and society. With the help of prayer, spiritual reading, the support of the Church, you will manifest the countless ways you are wonderfully gifted.
The second way of persevering in your Observance of Lent is not to be surprised when you are asked to share in the sufferings of Christ. I am convinced that St Therese told her beloved Jesus that she wanted to give herself to Him unconditionally, to enter into the mystery of his dying and rising with no holds barred and Jesus took her on her word. Dr Jane Thibault reminded me that not only did she suffer from tuberculosis of the lungs but of the intestines which causes enormous pain. And not only that, but her superior apparently did not want Therese to take the painkillers available at that time. As a result, Therese ended up suffering so terribly that she admitted that she would have terminated her life had the means been easily available to her. She suffered with Christ like few will ever be able to do so but as a result her writings and life have touched the hearts of countless people. She has taught millions what it means to truly love.
Each one of us is being called daily to share in Christ’s dying and rising if we are attentive to His loving presence. It is not that God wants us to suffer, though we may have to, but that we might be a part of a divine plan that is bringing about a whole new world, one in which justice and peace, love and forgiveness may have the upper hand rather than violence and harm to God’s design for our human family. Our loving Lord wants nothing more than to make all things new. Amen