2/20/2018 - homily for Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent - Matthew 6:7-15

    When I was serving as pastor of St James Catholic Church in Tupelo, the city of Tupelo was going through some difficult times.  There were some moments of violence and tension that we felt needed to be addressed.  Some of the ministers in the city wanted to get together to specifically address these concerns.  A small group of minsters spent most of the meeting telling us what their concerns were and the way they felt those concerned should be addressed.  We sat there very patiently and listening, knowing that it was important for them to be heard.  Yet, when they were finished talking, I thought it would be the time for the rest of us to respond and to give our own opinions.  However, I was in shock when the meeting abruptly ended and the rest of us were not given the opportunity to speak.  This small group wanted us to listen and to hear them out, but, the message I received in that meeting was that they did not care what the rest of us were thinking or what we felt.  To them, it was not a conversation, but rather them lecturing us and telling us the way they wanted things to be.  And then there is anger and hurt feelings when the results they expect don’t occur.  

       I guess that is what Jesus is talking about today in the way we pray.  We want God to listen to us.  We want to pour out our hearts to him.  But are we willing to listen to what God has to say to us?  Or are we too impatient and too arrogant, wanting our own will to be, rather than his will. 
        This Lenten season, let us try to foster a relationship with the Lord.  Let us try to discern his will, and then submit to his will.  Yes, may his kingdom come.  May his will be done.