Third Sunday in Lent B; IC 3:1;
It is good to hear the
recital of the Ten Commandments for our first reading. One might think
that they had been all but forgotten. It’s good to be reminded that God forbids
involvement with false religions; or that He will not allow work on His
Sabbath; that He has outlawed impurity and stealing and lying. God speaks in an
utterly solemn manner here, warning that He is a punishing God for those who
pursue wickedness, but a merciful God for those who love and obey Him. God
wants us to take Him seriously; He means what He says. God hates our sins; they
offend Him and He will deal with us according to our deeds.
Everyone–the Blessed Mother
aside–has sinned: which is to say, not ‘made mistakes’, for that would simply
be an error of judgment, but made deliberate choices in defiance of God’s
manifest will. Sin is culpable failure. But as long as we yet live on
this earth, we can make contrary choices too: to make our regrets to God; to
ask Him to forgive us and erase our misdeeds. The name often given to the New
Testament is the “good news” because by it we hear that Jesus takes away sins
in His blood. In confession, Jesus’ power is transmitted through the words of
the absolving priest to a sinner who has real sorrow for what he’s done against
God. This is a miracle; this is grace indeed that sin is remitted. Catholics
have this power at their disposal almost all the time in those confessional
booths placed around the church, where what Saint Paul calls “the power of God”
is exercised. How would you like being without that benefit, as non-Catholics
must be, deprived of that vital remedy for sins? Some Catholics, apparently,
would like that just fine, sidestepping the confessional for a
Protestant-styled confessing of their sins in secret, without the intervention
of the Church. Such Catholics remind me of those foolish persons who pursue
quack-remedies for their health problems when known and effective medicines are
readily at hand. Jesus gave His priests that medicine: “whose sins you forgive
they are forgiven them.” That attempt to evade going to confession, when it is
so easily available (especially in this parish!), reminds me of Saint John’s
revealing psychological insight into the mind of Christ. The Gospel today says
that Jesus would not trust himself to many people “because he knew them all”
and understood human nature very well. It’s an impossible game to try to match
wits with God! Him one cannot deceive! If one’s faith is not sincere, if one
tries to fake his religion, telling himself that he’s forgiven without confession; or if he goes to
Communion with mortal sin; if one tries to fool God in a thousand subtle and
futile ways, is God thereby deceived? Is religion a game played with God
wherein we make the rules and He must comply? God spare us from
self-deception! God knows all our minds and hearts, and there is no escape from
Him.
The portion of the Imitation
of Christ for today is called ‘How Christ speaks inwardly to the soul’. It
says a lot to me since I have just finished making a silent retreat (I write
about it in today’s pastor’s column). When the noise level is too loud, one can’t
carry on a conversation (a simple observation that seems to be ignored at most
wedding banquets nowadays). If one doesn’t pull back into the silence and
recollect himself from time to time, one can’t hear the voice of God talking to
the interior of his soul. Jesus said at one point that we should go to our room
and shut the door, praying to God in private. We all need some time to be
alone, from the world but present to God, shutting our eyes and ears to the
world so that we can take stock of our spiritual selves and pray in earnest to
our Lord.
When we come to Mass we are
here to be in communion with God. Some have mistaken Mass time for social time.
That may be more fun than praying with interiority and silence, but it’s not
the same thing, let alone a better thing. Each Mass ought to be a
retreat-in-miniature, leaving the din of the world for communion with God.
Before the tabernacle, God speaks to the soul that pours itself out to Him. Our
parish does not emphasize socializing at Mass: the optional sign of peace is
omitted: no handshaking or hugging. Of course, neither should a Christian be
gloomy or grumpy. We ought always to be charitable and warmly receptive of our
neighbor, but that is what we do outside this holy place, at the social hour
where, I hope, you enjoy with others the fruit of your delight in having been
with the Lord at Mass.
This sermon has traversed
several themes: from the commandments and confession, to retreat and church
etiquette. Their connecting link, I think, is integrity: being honest with God.
There are many traps and deceptions possible along our way through life; but
God sees the heart. Let’s always try to give Him His due: obedience to His
commandments; ‘fessing up when we’ve sinned; and adoring Him in His holy
temple.
The war is much on people’s minds at this time. We won’t stop our prayers for peace and for a speedy end to the conflict. Please stay for the rosary: it has a special power for these purposes exactly.