Homily for Friday of the 1st Week of Lent

For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/021508.shtml

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Mary, Queen of Vocations, pray for us

If we were be able to get into heaven without using our freedom well, we would enter heaven like spoiled brats. In today's first reading from Ezekiel, it is clear that God intends our freedom to have real consequences. If we are to be his sons and daughters, and not God's spoiled brats, we must share fully in his image and likeness, and that means using our freedom to do good and to avoid evil. Therefore, it is fair that a man who turns from his evil ways enters the kingdom of heaven, while the man who turns to evil turns toward his death. Without death as a consequence of sin, we would be able to live forever as spoiled brats, without having a definite reason to return our hearts to God, the source of life. Because death is the fair and real consequence of sin, we have a chance to become God's sons and daughters, if we turn from our evil ways and grow in virtue.

Matthew's Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes and ends with the command to 'be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.' Today's reading about reconciling with our brothers before we approach the altar of God reinforces our teaching concerning salvation, that nothing 'unclean' can enter the kingdom of heaven. Unless we are fully reconciled to God and to one another, we have two options - to be cast into 'fiery Gehenna' or to be put in prison until we have paid the last penny. Allegorically, this prison can be likened to purgatory, where we are fully cleansed before entering the kingdom of heaven.

The sign of peace that we share right before receiving communion signifies that we are in communion with God and with our neighbor. If we carry serious sins with us, it is the longstanding tradition of our Church to refrain from receiving communion until we have a chance to go to sacramental confession. Sacramental confession not only restores our relationship with God, it also restores our relationship with our brothers and sister with whom we share the Eucharist. Going to confession often ensures that when we share the sign of peace, we are not pretending to be at peace with God - we really are at peace. I know sometimes it is difficult to find a priest for confession, but whenever we have a chance to go, we should go. We should go at the regular times the sacrament is offered, but also it is ok to ask a priest for the sacrament on those rare occasions when we cannot make the regularly scheduled times. A priest will not always be able to say yes, but it is worth asking to receive forgiveness before receiving communion. Finally, we should not be embarrassed to cross our arms and to receive a blessing from the priest if we do not believe we are ready to receive communion. You might think that this will cause people to wonder what you've done that is so bad, but in reality, you are helping your brothers and sisters to form their consciences so that none of us is taking the Eucharist lightly.

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