Homily: 3rd Sunday in Lent – Cycle B
Friends,
as we enter this third week of this holy season, our second reading points us
towards the purpose for which we are making this preparation: our annual
celebration of the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Both our preparation and our celebration are
a counter-cultural sign, echoing Saint Paul’s claim about Christianity: that “we
proclaim Christ crucified”. This is a
counter-cultural sign today, because it declares that power is expressed in
defenselessness and that we are most free when we are able to hand ourselves
over to another (in contrast to the secular mindset, which says that power is
expressed in domination and that freedom is achieved when we overcome all
resistance).
Still
more, however, what the phrase “we proclaim Christ crucified” expresses is a
truth about humanity, weakened by its fall from grace, which is this: Suffering
is inevitable. When we accept the
suffering that comes to us while striving to live a rightly ordered life, we
embrace our humanity. When we embrace
our humanity, we live in a more fully-human way; thus, conforming ourselves to Christ,
whose suffering in our human nature has won for us the chance to live in paradise—the
place free of suffering.
Too
often in this modern, technologically advanced age, people believe that we have
the power in ourselves to relieve the world of suffering. It’s true that great advances in technology
have made it possible to relieve a lot of suffering in the world. What it hasn’t resolved, however, is human
nature. Human nature is still marred by
sin, and human beings still act selfishly and hurtfully in the world—and nature
itself remains harsh and difficult to live in—thus perpetuating suffering with
each new generation.
We
ourselves can fall into this trap, can’t we?
How often have we discussed, among ourselves or as a parish, that “if we
could just package the Gospel in a new and exciting way, people would be
attracted to it again”? Technological
solutions are not the answer. Saint Paul
has the answer: “we proclaim Christ crucified”.
“Christ crucified” is the answer to the question in every person’s
heart: “What is the meaning of life?” A
person finds meaning when he/she decides to take up a cross of suffering as
he/she strives to rightly-order his/her life and his/her environment according
to the plan of God. This is a “handing-over”
of one’s selfish desires to make the whole better for everyone, which includes
the person! Thus, the truth that Jesus
proclaimed: “He who wishes to preserve his life will lose it, and he who loses
his life will save it.”
I
know that many of you here fervently believe in these truths and are desperate
to rescue the many people in your environments—your family members, friends,
co-workers, etc.—who either have never heard these truths, who have begun to
believe distortions of these truths, or who have turned away from these truths
in their lives. If so, thanks be to
God! My message to you today is this,
don’t let fancy programs allure you away from proclaiming Christ crucified in
your daily life, for Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God” that is
greater than any program. Programs are
good, but only if the first witness we give is the proclamation of Christ
crucified with our daily lives. And, don’t
let a lack of positive response discourage you: because “to those who are
called”, “Christ crucified” is the answer that their hearts will eventually
receive, if we continually proclaim it with our lives.
For
you, this time in Lent is a continual examination of conscience, looking for
ways in which you have laid down your crosses because of selfishness or pride
and to take them up again so as to be an authentic witness to Christ crucified
as we prepare to celebrate boldly this truth at Easter.
Some
of you here, however, are not sure about all of this. Perhaps you’re confused on how to make sense
of the world and this proclamation of Christ crucified. You’re here because it’s familiar and safe,
but you’re unsure if this is the answer to the questions in your heart. Perhaps it’s something as simple as
complacency: all of this is so familiar that you’ve lost the sense of what it’s
all for. Either way, that’s okay. God is with you in this moment, even if you
don’t realize it, and he is ready to help you overcome your doubts, confusion,
apathy, whatever.
For
you, this time in Lent should be a meditation on the mystery of Christ’s
life. Reflecting on how he lived and on
what he taught—reflecting especially on the events leading up to his passion
and death—can help you to see how Christ crucified is the model for human
living that, when lived, gives meaning and direction to our lives. By embracing this truth, it will be so much more
fruitful to examine your conscience, since you’ll be able to see the things
that divert you from this path so that you might turn away from them and embark
on the journey to proclaim Christ crucified with your life. The celebration of Easter, therefore, will be
even more joyful as you’ll see how suffering—rightly ordered—leads to the joy
of the resurrection.
Friends,
the world is crying and it is seeking solace in worldly power (technology) and
wisdom (political ideologies). What it
needs, however, is “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”… and we need
this, too. Therefore, as we continue through
these days of Lent, let us respond generously to the call of God to turn away
from our selfishness and pride, so as to proclaim Christ crucified
authentically once again. That, by doing
so, we might prepare ourselves to celebrate Christ’s victory over the cross
when we celebrate his resurrection at Easter.
Mary,
our most loving mother, accompanies us in this work. May she comfort us in our struggles and
inspire us in our efforts, even as she stands with us today, giving thanks to
the Father here in this Holy Mass.
Given in Spanish at St. Patrick Parish: Kokomo, IN – March
3rd, 2024
No comments:
Post a Comment