1st Sunday of Lent Year A

The temptations of Christ are, together with the Agony in the Garden, proof of Jesus humanity. In fact, the two are closely related. A temptation presumes the possibility that I might give in to it and also that the object in question is desirable to me. I am not tempted by things to which I am indifferent and of which I have no knowledge. Jesus, therefore, even though he is the Son of God is being truly tested in terms of physical gratification, the working of marvels, which would bring fame, and possessions, which offer power and privilege. Yet, he remains true to his mission to do the Father's will. This is not the end of his temptations. In the gospel of Luke it states: "When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time." (Lk 4: 13) That time occurs in the Garden of Gethsemane when the temptation is to save his life by fleeing from his impending arrest. On that occasion he prays: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." (Lk 22: 42) This sums up the whole of his mission. Jesus did not bring about salvation through asceticism, sufferning or self-denial rather he did so through obedience: "Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvaton for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Malchizedek." (Heb 5: 8-10) Lent is a season when we too strive to be obedient to Christ our High Priest so that we may work out more faithfully in our own lives the salvation that he has won for us. The exercises we embark on are fruitless unless we do them out of loving obedience. St Paul writes: "If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor 13: 3)

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is an opportunity every year to start Lent with a reminder of just how yucky our sin can be. Even the small cross of ash bestowed on us tickles our noses and threatens to get in our eyes. Children frequently rub the ashes off very soon after receiving them. Adults will wander around town oblivious to the fact of the smudge on their foreheads and are sometimes surprised when someone points out to them that they have a bruise of a strange mark on their faces. Perhaps this tells us something of the effects of sin. By definition, I need to will to sin but so often I will forget, even soon afterwards, what I have done. Yet, the effect of the sin remains and it may well be very visible to others even when I have forgotten about the word or act myself. Thus, Ash Wednesday is a reminder to address the habits and effects of sin in my life so that I may counteract the consequences of my sin and live in true freedom. This freedom is designed for me to do what is good and this requires discipline and self-control. These virtues are exactly what is required to live out a Lent which renders an individual to celebrate Easter with greater joy and true happinesss - free from guilt and unworried by the mark of sin. 

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus says: "Look at the birds of the air... Consider the lilies of the field..." (Mtt 6: 26 and 28). He directs us outside of ourselves to see the beauty of what the Father has created. It is a cliche, nevertheless, we do need to take time in life, on occasion, to smell the roses (and consider the lilies). Even better would be for us to reflect in turn on the God who has made both us and them with such care and order. Often when we are governed by fear and anxiety we make decisions for our self-preservation that are at the expense of others. Think of how people stampede and crush one another when they sense a threat. When we take on board that our life with Christ is secure, regardless of the circumstances, we are protected from panic. Like an infant secure in its mother's arms we can sleep and live in peace since God will never forget us: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." (Is. 49: 15) 

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus tells us: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mtt 5: 48) How, then, is the Father perfect? He is perfect in love since, "God is love." (1 Jn 4: 16) We are given, by faith, the opportunity to participate in this love and to live it out in the Church and in the world. Our ability to aspire to this perfection, however, is not brought about through our own efforts rather: "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us." (1 Jn 4: 17-19) We can only be perfect as the Sermon on the Mount challenges us to be when we realise how much God loves us and continues to do so. This is made a most visible in Jesus Christ: "But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us." (Rom 5: 8) It is only then that we can keep the commandments which to worldly people sound crazy: "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." (Mtt 5: 44) So it is that: "The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." (1 Jn 4: 21)

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When I hear adolescents talking about the Catholic faith they frequently make reference to "the Rules." I am not really sure what they are! Yet, some people becomes engrossed and even repelled by the laws of the Church. However, the best anology I have for church law is that of the road code. It takes study and attention at the time you learn to drive but once you have your license they fade into the background. There purpose is achieved when all road users travel safely to their destination. It is the same for us as Catholics. The Canon Law, GIRM (liturgical law) and other rules can be complex however once we have a working knowledge of them it makes our worship, goverance and prayer easier and less prone to the equivalent of road accidents. Saint Paul, in his letter ot the Galatians, uses the analogy for the law of the guardian who escort the children on their way to school. The reality of our faith, as we hear in the Second Reading is always greater than any set of laws or rules: "But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory." (1 Cor. 2: 7) The last canon of the 1983 Code of Canon Law says it well when it states: "canonical equity is to be observed, and the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes." (c. 1752)