The trajectory of our Gospel readings during Mass have taken us through key events in Christ’s life and public ministry. The first Sunday in Lent, we heard about Jesus being thrust into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where he was tempted by Satan. Last Sunday, we heard about Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop in the presence of some of his apostles. This Sunday, we hear of Jesus cleansing the Temple of all that is not leading them to God. Jesus tells those who doubt him: Destroy this temple and I shall raise it up in three days. The people were perplexed. They thought Jesus was speaking about the physical building of the Temple in Jerusalem. How would Jesus raise us a huge building complex like that in three days? Many of them still did not understand what the resurrection was all about.
Just as Jesus tried to cleanse the physical Temple in Jerusalem, we ourselves must be cleansed from the all that does not lead us to God. As we hear in the book of Exodus about God giving the people of Israel the 10 commandments, we are reminded of how knowing God’s commandments and striving to live out the values of these commandments in our lives is one of the ways that we can be cleansed for God. We cannot achieve our own salvation on our own. It is not something we ourselves can earn. We achieve our salvation through our Savior Jesus Christ through a freely given gift from God. But God does ask us to cooperate in his plan for salvation. As the story of Exodus and the gift of God’s commandments demonstrates, God offer his loves to his people. God is always striving to love us and to draw us to himself.
Lent is a wonderful time in our Church year where we can reflect upon our response to God and his love. We can start by asking ourselves if we truly believe that God loves us. If we we believe that God is our ally in helping to cleanse us from all that separates us from God and our faith. If we are able to place our trust in God’s love.
The sacrament of reconciliation is important in mending the brokenness in our relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters. In the FORGIVEN series that we are watching as a parish on the FORMED website, the third video session explains the rite of the sacrament of reconciliation. The priest stands in persona Christi - in the person of Christ - through this rite. The book of Proverbs states: "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 38:13). The different priests that they interviewed in this video in the FORGIVEN series express how it is both a joy and privilege to welcome people back to God in the sacrament. We priests are so glad to welcome the faithful to the sacrament of reconciliation, especially if they have been away from the sacrament or away from the Church for a period of time. We priests have a lot of admiration of the courage of the penitents who come to us for confessions. During Lent, I am available after all the Masses for the sacrament of reconciliation. Also, after the 4:00 pm Mass on Saturday, March 3, Bishop Kopacz, Monsignor Flannery, and I will be available for the sacrament of reconciliation. I am so glad that both Bishop and Monsignor Flannery will be joining us here at St Jude that evening. It will be offered outside, weather permitting, so it will be very safe and will follow our protocols. I want to encourage all of you to watch the third video in the FORGIVEN series that goes through the rite of the sacrament of reconciliation. And encourage you to come to the sacrament during the season of Lent. I will also be hearing confession after any of the Masses during Lent. Let us open our hearts to the Lord as we continue our Lenten journey. Let us believe in his words. The holy season of Lent is here to prepare us to celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord: the pascal mysteries. Let have the faith and courage to walk in the way of the Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment