IC 3:3, 5^th Sunday of Lent B, April 6, 2003

Before our Lord Ascended gloriously into heaven, He imposed upon His apostles a solemn duty of announcing the Gospel. They were to call the world to repentance; they were to teach all men to observe all things whatsoever He had commanded them. Priests thus have a most serious obligation to raise their voices like trumpets, declaring to the people their crimes and their sins and moving them to make atonement for them. This commission has been taken all too lightly by priests in our day, I fear. Sermons are often made of the stuff of daily news, of entertainments, of trivialities. The biblical history of preaching however presents an entirely different function of the preacher. He is the deliverer of God’s word who must speak–often enough against his own inclination and in spite of his own frailty–even to kings the severity of God’s displeasure. Sermon time was never intended, by divine design, as an exercise in rhetorical prowess or as a pleasant diversion for the people. (Neither, of course, need it be dull or boring!) But its purpose is to have God speak through His designated ambassador, exhorting His own people through the words of His priests.

I sometimes think of the weighty imposition of this work of preaching and how much the Lord will demand of our words, of my words. If not from the pulpit, where else would people today get moral admonition, counsel, correction, and encouragement? Will they get these words from TV, from the workplace, or from the world generally? If the mouth of the priest is silent, there can be expected a lapse of faith and of good conduct. The still smarting wounds of clerical scandal in this country have, in some instances, reduced the credibility of priests as moral leaders. This is certainly a deplorable situation since the pursuit of the good and devout life requires the Word of God to be often renewed, repeated, rehearsed. As our Lord said, man does not live on bread only, but on every word of God. Who will hear this word without priests who are willing to teach and proclaim? Never mind their own unworthiness to speak in Gods’ all-holy name; never mind that they themselves share in the feebleness of fallen humanity: they have a job that God assiduously demands of them. Woe to them if they omit it!

“Whoever loves his life loses it.” These words come to us today in the Gospel, from the mouth of God. I have a real fear that Catholics are becoming deaf to them by circumventing the whole Gospel of the Lord for a new one, the one that allows one to do his own will rather than God’s; to love his life independently of life with God. When I am told that Catholics now divorce with the same frequency as their non-Catholic counterparts; that they use contraceptives; have abortions; defy the teachings of the Pope; receive Communion in mortal sin; do not confess regularly; often omit attendance at Mass; and indulge in all the sinful entertainments that TV, movies, music and print offers, I know we are in a deep spiritual crisis. God doesn’t adjust Himself to our standards; His Word is inviolable and eternal. But where is the voice of God heard? and who is there who will disturb consciences to make people repent of their evil ways?

God’s love for each soul must be made known through the preaching of priests. If in all the preaching of a priest’s life one soul is converted to God and saved, all his words, fears, sermon preparations, would have been well worth it.

In just one more week we will enter Holy Week. “The days are coming, says the Lord...” You will hear again of the infinite love of Jesus Christ for your soul. You will hear how He endured all the bitterness life can offer for your salvation. And should you not then have the greatest care for the eternal outcome of your life?

I hope that our Lord grants to me the needed efficacy so that my words may be entirely in accord with His will for your salvation. On your part I hope that will keep an open ear for His truth and allow the richness of His word to penetrate your hearts.

After Mass: the rosary still. I have to say that this is a good thing that has come out of this war: a priest praying the rosary with his people. Let our prayers reach the merciful ear of God and the tender heart of Mary Immaculate for and end to this war and to a world at peace with God and with all men.