1st Sunday of Lent

 The First Sunday of Lent in all three years of the Lectionary has the temptations in the desert as the Gospel. Clearly, the Church is aware that a major aspect of the Christian life is the danger of being derailed from following "the Way" by temptation. This is apparent also in the parable of the Sower of the Seed. The appetites, earthly power and fame are the three temptations placed by Satan before Jesus to dissuade him from his mission. In each of his replies to these blandishments Jesus does not rely on his own strength but emphasizes his dependence on the Father: "One does not live by bread alone," (Lk 4: 4) "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him," (Lk 4: 8) and "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Lk 4: 12) These answers need to be ours as we look forward to the journey through Lent to the Easter Triduum. The action of grace in us is the most important aspect of our lives rather than some feeble and futile efforts at self-improvement that do not benefit others and do not bring us closer to God.

Ash Wednesday

 Jesus says: "Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them." (Mtt 6: 1) Saint Paul says: "We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us." (2 Cor 5: 20) How can we find the right balance between the interior and the exterior life? Many people say they are "spiritual but not religious" and that "religious belief is a private matter." Others look to use religion for political and nationalistic influence. The Christian vocation, therefore, requires discernment. We are called to be missionary disciples but not proselytizers. We are called to active but not activist. We are neither pietist nor Pelagian, rather our mission is to spread the joy of the Gospel. This is not for our own benefit. If that is the case we would be guilty of betraying our Christian identity: "You received without payment; give without payment." (Mtt 10: 8) The encounter with Christ transforms our lives so that our Lenten journey takes us back to the source of our hope so that we might rejoice all the more in the resurrection: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them." (2 Cor 5: 14-15)

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The challenges from Jesus' "Sermon on the Plain" continue today. Each one of us has to ask ourselves the question: am I a blind guide? do I notice the log in my own eye? do I bear good fruit in my life? We need to remember that the gospels were written for communities of believers sometimes decades after the actual words of Jesus were spoken. The Gospel was not for its time only: "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3: 16-17) Let us listen to the Gospel without fear. As disciples to receive correction we know ourselves to be loved by the Master. We are missionary disciples for the whole of life and we should never regard ourselves as having "made it." It is sufficient that we can attain to being a little more like our teacher everyday: "A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher." (Lk 6: 40)

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 I find the gospel for today most challenging. The gravitational pull of conforming to the society that surrounds us and its values can be exhausting to resist. Sometimes, by osmosis, I find myself absorbing harmful attitudes or even heresy unawares! This is why it is so important to listen anew to the challenge of the Gospel and to gather for Eucharist with other missionary disciples who experience the same challenges and difficulties in living out the Gospel. We all need to be cleansed of our sinful tendencies so that we do not become inured to evil. The power to do this comes from the Holy Spirit. There is also the incentive that our efforts to forgive, praise and love in accord with the teachings of the Lord will bring with them the reward promised at the conclusion of the Gospel: "A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." (Lk 6: 28)

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today's First Reading and Gospel speak of blessings and curses. It is common place today to hear people complain that others are aware of their rights but ignorant of their responsibilities. In the same way, can we also be guilty of being open to the blessings but not mindful of the curses? We hear: "'Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose heart are turned away from the Lord'." (Jer 17: 5) In the Gospel Jesus speaks of the woe in store for those who are rich, satiated, laughing and have others speak well of them. (Lk 6: 23-26) Despite my Mass going and other devotional exercizes is it possible that these curses apply to me?! It is always helpful to do an occasional spiritual audit to check whether worldly attitudes have infiltrated their way into my behaviour. The key is to listen to the Word and then to apply it to myself and pray that I have the wisdom and humility to commit myself to a way of life that is consistent with the blessings promised by the Lord.