Homily

“Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned…”

 MERCY! If you want to seek out one word that could sum up the penitential season of Lent that we begin this evening, it is MERCY. As we gather – despite all of the difficulties we face coming together as a community this particular year, a great place to begin our journey is with a better understanding of MERCY.

When we think of Lent, because of so many previous experiences of the season, it seems to be something filled with dread. We are trained to think that Lent means we have to start off by “giving up” something. But my experience is that this idea – while it has some benefits – can be misunderstood. Do I really have to give things up? The answer is probably “yes” and “no”! 

Scripture does teach us of the value of sacrifice and self-denial and it has often been part of God’s own commands through the prophets and in the teaching of Jesus. The Church through the centuries has held in high esteem the practice of self-discipline and self-sacrifice – through fasting, prayer, and alms-giving, the three pillars of Lent. But we have to also understand that these practices are more an invitation to open ourselves up to grace – more than just being a burden.

Giving something up is really about entering into God’s abundant mercy on a deeper and more personal level. It’s about being freed from all that binds us or separates us from God’s mercy and love, and it helps us to experience the new life we so deeply seek from God. Giving something up could be seen as simple as fasting from food or from drink; or it could be any form of an intentional act that requires a certain self-denial such as, taking time out of our day to visit someone in need or calling someone who is unable to go outside and mix with others, or to take the time to write a letter or a long-overdue email to a close friend or relative. It could be to seek out special time to pray for the needs of someone else. This is all good. Why? Because it strengthens us in spirit and helps us to control our will. It strengthens us to be more resolved to say “YES” to God on a deeper, more complete level.

So often in life we are controlled by our emotions and our desires. We have an impulse for this or that, or do to this or that, and we often let this impulses, theses emotions or passions or desires control us. Entering into the yearly practice of self-denial in Lent helps to strengthen us to controlled whatever disordered tendencies we may have rather than being controlled by them. And this applies to much more than just food or drink. It applies to many other parts of life including virtues we may overlook or fail to live up to, especially the virtue of charity.

Mercy is fundamentally about CHARITY. It’s about divine LOVE, the LOVE that God has for us and that he wishes us to practice one to another. It’s about being free to let love consume us and take us over so that – in the end – all we want to do is LOVE. This is often something very hard to achieve and to practice in our lives, but it is the primary source for finding joy and fulfillment in life.

Mercy is an act of LOVE that, in a sense, is not deserved by another. It’s a free gift – like grace – that is given purely from a motivation of LOVE. And this is e4xactly the LOVE that God gives to each of us – God’s DIVINE LOVE is MERCY. So, if we want to receive that mercy then we also have to be willing ti give it to others. And if we want – if we desire to give this to others, we need to train ourselves, and properly prepare ourselves to give MERCY. Mercy is something we have to train ourselves to do through constant practice. We begin this training by simple, small acts of self-denial. 

Last year, I mentioned that our resolutions to give alms, to pray and to fast can easily go the way of ashes, dramatically imposed but quickly wiped off or washed away – or this year, blown away in a breeze. Perhaps we can use each Friday in Lent to pray the Stations of the Cross alone at home or in a church, if possible. We can use each Sunday in Lent to renew our resolutions of giving alms, praying and fasting – and even strengthen these in our life. 

Brothers and sisters, let us see any sacrifices or burdens we take on through prayer, fasting and alms-giving to be essentially the pathway to the life God wants to bestow on us. May the grace of Lent become a joy for us to embrace all the MERCY and LOVE God gives to us each day. 

Prayers

Celebrant: The sign of blessed ashes invites us to respond to the God who calls us to come back to him with all our heart. Though we cannot receive these physically this year, spiritually our season of lent begins today. Our prayers enrich the charity and faith of this penitential season. 

READER:  For all members of the holy Church as they repent and do penance in this chosen time of Lent, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the will to discipline ourselves by fasting and self-denial, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For generosity to the poor and the oppressed by practical almsgiving, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For a return to the sacrament of absolution and reconciliation, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER For all in our community during this difficult time of the CODID virus, those at home, those in quarantine, those serving and ministering to others in the health sector, for our elderly and ill, for all in civil service and society caring for our needs(Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the repose of the soul of Jeffrey Wai for whom this Mass is offered and for the touch of God’s compassionate peace on his family and friends, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT: God of mercy and compassion, look upon the petitions of penitent people. As we pray for grace at this time, let us not forget the needs of others. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. (all) AMEN.