3rd Sunday of Lent

 Jesus says to the Samaritan woman: "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him." (Jn 4: 23) The question I ask is, are we such worshippers and how do we know? We know that there are sadly divisions among Christians and even among Catholics about the correct way in which to give proper worship to God. Throughout history there has even been much violence between those who disagree on what this means. The key, for Christians, is surely the interpretation of the injunction of the Lord at the Last Supper to: "Do this in memory of me." We have advantage not only of the Scriptures, including the teachings of St Paul on the Holy Eucharist, but also of the testimony of the Church Fathers, Papal Magisterium and the uninterrupted Tradition of the Church. When we enter the liturgy, therefore, we must be attentive to these teachings so that we are not ultimately worshipping in a manner inconsistent with the example and person of Christ. This is not a question of legalism. Sometimes priests will say: "Say what is black, do what is in the red" however, there is a need for engagement of the heart. We need not only to obey the Church and its liturgy but also to love it. Our love of the Church will help us to love the Lord and to be guided and informed by the Holy Spirit. let us always strive therefore to worship in spirit and in truth.

2nd Sunday of Lent

 Last Sunday we heard at the conclusion of the temptations in the desert: "Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him" (Mtt 4: 11) The gospel of the Transfiguration, for today, comes after an unsettled time in the ministry of Jesus. He has said to Simon Peter: "Get behind me, Satan!" (Mtt 16: 23). and the disciples are admonished: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Mtt 16: 25) I find it a rule of the spiritual life that consolation follows from desolation.  This is the case with Lent. We intentionally enter the desolation of fasting, prayer and almsgiving, so as to prepare ourselves for the consolation of Easter. In our times of suffering the ability to endure given us by our faith in Jesus Christ can be helped by knowing that the Lord will grant us consolation when we emerge from the time of trial. St Paul speaks of this when he wrote: "And not only that, but we boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Rm 5: 3-5)

1st Sunday of Lent (Year A)

 Eve looks at the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. She knows that she and her husband are forbidden to eat from it because she reports as much to the serpent. Yet the serpent assures her that God is a liar: "You shall not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good and evil." (Gn 3: 4-5) Eve can see three reasons for why she should eat the fruit: the tree was good for food, the fruit was a delight to the eye, and it could make her wise (Gn 3: 5-6), in other words, food/appetite, beauty and knowledge. The devil also holds out three reasons to Jesus to tempt him to disobey his heavenly Father in the gospel: food, fame and power. How many of our obvious or hidden addictions/compulsions are underpinned by a desire for such things? For this reason, Lent is a valuable season to purify our hearts and the vision of our minds so that we repudiate any form of idolatry. Jesus dismisses the devil saying: "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him." (Mt 4: 10). I exhort all Catholics to commit to the process of repentance and renewal of Lent by attending Mass every Sunday and, if possible, on weekdays, as well as the ceremonies of the Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil. Together we will vindicate ourselves against all temptations in a society that has eyes only for the blandishments of the devil.

Ash Wednesday

 The sight of Catholics going about their business on this day, with ash crosses marked on their foreheads, reminds us that faith is not a purely subjective or private matter. Many are fond of saying: "I am spiritual but not religious." Why do they say that? It is like saying: "I have words but I do not have language." Since we are enfleshed spirits, our spiritual exercises for Lent will necessarily have an observable effect. It remains that as missionary disciples we are called to manifest our faith to the world so that others may know the joy of the Gospel.  This does not mean that we are going to congratulate the world or conform ourselves to it. Our message is that of the Gospel which was, from the beginning one of metanoia or repentance. This change of life is a response to the revelation of God's grace and is enabled and sustained by the Holy Spirit. To this end we can take St Paul's words to the Corinthians as our own as we encounter a wounded world: "We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us, we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (1 Cor 5: 20)

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The Church continues this week to listen again to the Sermon on the Mount. As the new law given by the new Moses, Jesus Christ who leads us in the exodus from sin and death to eternal life (see Lk 9: 31), it is written not on tablets of stone (Ex 32: 15-16) but on human hearts (see Jer 32: 33 and Heb 10: 16). For this reason, it is superior to the old law in its demands: "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mtt 5: 20) It calls for a transformation of the heart that makes us ready and fit to serve in the Kingdom: "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mtt 5: 28) God does not look at the surface: "... for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Sam 16: 7) As we approach the season of Lent let us look to our hearts and strive to live in accord with God's love and grace since: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Mtt 5: 8)

The Church continues this week to hear again the Sermon on the Mount. As the new law given by the new Moses, Jesus Christ who leads us in the exodus from sin and death to eternal life (see Lk 9: 31), it is written not on tablets of stone (Ex 32: 15-16) but on human hearts (see Jer 32: 33 and Heb 10: 16). For this reason, it is superior to the old law in its demands: "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mtt 5: 20) It calls for a transformation of the heart that makes us ready and fit to serve in the Kingdom: "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mtt 5: 28) God does not look at the surface: "... for the does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Sam 16: 7) As we approach the season of Lent let us look to our hearts and strive to live in accord with God's love and grace since: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Mtt 5: 8)

The Church continues this week to hear again the Sermon on the Mount. As the new law given by the new Moses, Jesus Christ who leads us in the exodus from sin and death to eternal life (see Lk 9: 31), it is written not on tablets of stone (Ex 32: 15-16) but on human hearts (see Jer 32: 33 and Heb 10: 16). For this reason, it is superior to the old law in its demands: "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mtt 5: 20) It calls for a transformation of the heart that makes us ready and fit to serve in the Kingdom: "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mtt 5: 28) God does not look at the surface: "... for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Sam 16: 7) As we approach the season of Lent let us look to our hearts and strive to live in accord with God's love and grace since: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Mtt 5: 8)

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 In philosophy there is a word "teleology" which speaks of the inherent purpose of an object. An example of this would be the teleology of the acorn is to become an oak tree. What is the teleology of the missionary disciple? Jesus tells us, in the gospel, that the teleology of his disciples is to be "salt of the earth" and "light for the world." If we fail to be the former we are: "no longer good for anything" (Mtt 5: 13) and if we fail to be the latter, we are illogical: "No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket." (Mtt 5: 15) Today can I ask myself how I am salt of the earth and light for the world? I am fulfilling my purpose as a missionary disciple and realizing my vocation given me in baptism. Let us all be alert to the challenge to put the gospel into practice and bring the joy of the gospel to those whom I meet.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 It is interesting that only two of the nine Beatitudes, that mark the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, have their reward in the present. They are: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" and "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Mtt 5: 3 and 10) The kingdom of heaven, therefore, is a present reality for those who are poor in spirit and are persecuted for righteousness' sake.  When we pray the Lord's Prayer during the Mass we say: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come...". Thus, we desire to be subjects of the Father's heavenly rule and not ruled by any other authority, temporal or spiritual. So, what is this kingdom? St Paul tells the Romans: "For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but the righteous and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rm 14: 17) When we serve the church, through ministries and prayer, we are striving to be poor in spirit, and when we testify to our faith in public, we open ourselves to being persecuted for righteousness' sake. In this way we can experience righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, here and now.