The Light is on...

In the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Arlington, all parish churches are open on all Wednesdays of the Holy Season of Lent from 6:30PM-8:00PM for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

This program has been called, "The Light Is On For You."

First Week of Lent, Friday

One of the most awesome and inspiring about priesthood, and at the same time the most humbling, is to be able to be used by God to grant forgiveness.

The sacrament of reconciliation always amazes me. It is amazing how good and gracious God is, how he does not deal with us as our sins deserve. Thank you, God, for, “if you O, Lord should mark our guilt, who would endure?”

The words of the Lord through the prophet Ezekiel are encouraging:

If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?

God does not want any of us to die. God wants us to live, and so he offers his forgiveness. It is an offer we can receive, ignore, or reject.

Since God forgives and desires that we be reconciled with him, we, his children are also called to ask forgiveness from our brothers and sisters whom we have wronged, to give forgiveness to those who have wronged us, and to seek reconciliation with them.

Forgiveness is a gift of life and liberty. When we ask for and receive God’s forgiveness, we are freed from sin, and restored to life. When we ask forgiveness from persons we have wronged, and give forgiveness to those who have wronged us, we end the cycle of resentment (which causes violence and “death”) and we open up the renewal of life-giving relationships. Somebody said, and I think he said it well: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and then you discover, the prisoner was you.”

This season of Lent, may we receive the liberating and life-giving grace of forgiveness. Amen.

Have a holy Lent.

First Week of Lent, Thursday

Today’s readings are obviously about prayer. Queen Esther prayed with all her heart, completely entrusting to God the life of the Israelite people. Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel are very encouraging – “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you. For he who asks receives; he who seeks, finds. And he who knocks shall be opened to.” But experience tells us that we do not always receive what we asked for, find what we seek, and have the door opened to us. We ask, why? Going back to the Gospel, Jesus continues, “Will not your heavenly Father give you what you need?”

Perhaps what we asked for and sought is not what we need. The door we want opened is not the door that would lead to God.

I am reminded of a poem attributed to an unknown Confederate soldier. It speaks of God’s answers to our prayers. I quote:

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Today, as we continue with our Lenten Journey, we ask the Holy Spirit for enlightenment to know what we truly need, and that we may pray with the confidence and trust of a child to a loving and provident Father. Amen.

Have a holy Lent.

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

At an adult catechism class, the catechist noted that the story of Jonah was not actually historical, that it did not actually, literally happen as it is related. He followed his comment with a rhetorical question (one that does not actually needed an answer) – “Well, how can we not say that the story of Jonah and the Ninevites did not actually happen?” A couple of answers came, though. One blurted out, “well, it could not be that one could still be alive after three days of being in the belly of a whale.” “Some practical, empirical guy,” the catechist thought. Another remarked: “well, because the people actually repented?"

The first reading and the Gospel were intentionally put together.

The figure of Jonah in the belly of the whale for three days is a figure of Jesus in the tomb for three days. The juxtaposition of the first reading and the Gospel shows this vividly. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale, but after three days was brought out alive to the shore, Jesus will stay in the bowels of the earth, but on the third day will rise again.

But there is another thing that we should not miss in the juxtaposition of the first reading and the Gospel. In the first reading, Jonah preached to the people, and the people repented – from the king to last citizen, and in the Jewish hyperbole, even the cats and dogs fasted. In the Gospel however, we see the obstinacy of the people who still failed to heed the call of Jesus to repent and believe. Time and time again, God called his people to repentance, but they kept on sinning. Time and time again, God calls us to repentance but we keep sinning.

This season of Lent, God again is calling us to repentance. Jonah speaks to us today – “repent for the hand of God is upon you.” And we have a greater than Jonah here – Jesus Christ who invites us, “Repent and believe in the Gospel” threatening us not with destruction, but offering us love and compassion.

How will our story unfold?

As we prayed in the Responsorial Psalm, may we wholeheartedly pray:

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;

in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

and of my sin cleanse me.

This season of Lent, may we come to true repentance, turn away from our sinful habits and strive towards virtue and goodness. Amen.

Have a holy Lent.