Here is the text of the homily I shared with those who gathered to pray with us today. As we begin the annual journey of Lent, some food for thought, prayer and guidance.
In a few moments, we will mark our foreheads with ashes. This visible and concrete sign signals our commitment to set out on the journey that lies ahead of us: a journey that ultimately leads us to re-discovering the dignity we have received and the great gift of being known as children of God, but there is a paradox about this sign. In the modern-day society that surrounds us, the clothes we wear, the attention we pay to our hairstyles, the words we use to greet each other ... even the physical posture we strive to maintain are all unspoken signs to others of our success and the image that we have of ourselves. In contrast to all this, marking our foreheads with ashes appears to the undiscerning eye as a sign of humility.
In the tradition of the Church, ashes placed on our bodies are a sign of our Christian dignity and our willingness to make a commitment to changing our ways in order to mark a new beginning in the relationship between God, others and us. Knowing the temptations of the human heart, Jesus warned his disciples: Beware of practicing your piety before people in order to be seen by them (Mt 6:1). If we seek to draw the attention of others so that they will somehow praise us for our righteousness, Jesus says that we have missed the point.
There are three disciplines that have traditionally been associated with the liturgical season of Lent. They are described in the gospel passage that we have heard in this liturgy. How is it that these disciplines help us to return to the Lord (cf Joel 2:13), to be reconciled with God (cf 2 Cor 5:20) and to recognize our Christian dignity?
Jesus teaches his disciples: When you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you (Mt 6:2). Almsgiving has traditionally been part of Jewish practice. All of Jesus' hearers would have understood the importance of sharing some of our wealth with those who are less fortunate, but Jesus warned his disciples not to be like those who make a show of giving. As we prepare for Easter, we too are encouraged to share some of our wealth with those who are less fortunate than we are. The wealth we share can be monetary but it can also take the form of talents and time that are offered for the benefit of others. The important thing is that we come back to the understanding that we are all called to help others, especially those who are in need.
Whenever you pray, says Jesus, do not stand in the synagogues and at street corners so that you may be seen by others (Mt 6:5). The season of Lent gives us a chance to renew our commitment to regularly speaking with Jesus in prayer, not for the sake of being noticed, but simply so that we can open our hearts to God and so that God can remind us that his merciful heart is always wide open and waiting to welcome us when we turn to him.
Whenever you fast, do not look dismal ... but put oil on your head and wash your face ... so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father (Mt 6:16-18). Fasting is the voluntary acceptance of doing without something so that we will be more disposed to recognizing God's presence. There are many things from which we can fast. What is important is that we should take the time to discern that which distracts us from recognizing the presence of God or from spending time with God in prayer.
The paradox of Lent is that we are called to turn our attention away from ourselves and toward the needs of others. The disciplines of Lent help us to do just this. Fasting leads us to enter more freely into the discipline of prayer and the fruit of prayer is a willingness to share our talents and gifts with those who are in need. These three disciplines are all tied one to another. Together they help us to return to the Lord with all our hearts (Joel 2:12).
Paradox
In a few moments, we will mark our foreheads with ashes. This visible and concrete sign signals our commitment to set out on the journey that lies ahead of us: a journey that ultimately leads us to re-discovering the dignity we have received and the great gift of being known as children of God, but there is a paradox about this sign. In the modern-day society that surrounds us, the clothes we wear, the attention we pay to our hairstyles, the words we use to greet each other ... even the physical posture we strive to maintain are all unspoken signs to others of our success and the image that we have of ourselves. In contrast to all this, marking our foreheads with ashes appears to the undiscerning eye as a sign of humility.
In the tradition of the Church, ashes placed on our bodies are a sign of our Christian dignity and our willingness to make a commitment to changing our ways in order to mark a new beginning in the relationship between God, others and us. Knowing the temptations of the human heart, Jesus warned his disciples: Beware of practicing your piety before people in order to be seen by them (Mt 6:1). If we seek to draw the attention of others so that they will somehow praise us for our righteousness, Jesus says that we have missed the point.
There are three disciplines that have traditionally been associated with the liturgical season of Lent. They are described in the gospel passage that we have heard in this liturgy. How is it that these disciplines help us to return to the Lord (cf Joel 2:13), to be reconciled with God (cf 2 Cor 5:20) and to recognize our Christian dignity?
Jesus teaches his disciples: When you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you (Mt 6:2). Almsgiving has traditionally been part of Jewish practice. All of Jesus' hearers would have understood the importance of sharing some of our wealth with those who are less fortunate, but Jesus warned his disciples not to be like those who make a show of giving. As we prepare for Easter, we too are encouraged to share some of our wealth with those who are less fortunate than we are. The wealth we share can be monetary but it can also take the form of talents and time that are offered for the benefit of others. The important thing is that we come back to the understanding that we are all called to help others, especially those who are in need.
Whenever you pray, says Jesus, do not stand in the synagogues and at street corners so that you may be seen by others (Mt 6:5). The season of Lent gives us a chance to renew our commitment to regularly speaking with Jesus in prayer, not for the sake of being noticed, but simply so that we can open our hearts to God and so that God can remind us that his merciful heart is always wide open and waiting to welcome us when we turn to him.
Whenever you fast, do not look dismal ... but put oil on your head and wash your face ... so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father (Mt 6:16-18). Fasting is the voluntary acceptance of doing without something so that we will be more disposed to recognizing God's presence. There are many things from which we can fast. What is important is that we should take the time to discern that which distracts us from recognizing the presence of God or from spending time with God in prayer.
The paradox of Lent is that we are called to turn our attention away from ourselves and toward the needs of others. The disciplines of Lent help us to do just this. Fasting leads us to enter more freely into the discipline of prayer and the fruit of prayer is a willingness to share our talents and gifts with those who are in need. These three disciplines are all tied one to another. Together they help us to return to the Lord with all our hearts (Joel 2:12).
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