Repent and turn towards God

The readings for the Third Sunday of Lent can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022816.cfm

Most people think that repentance and penance are the same thing. And so they see repentance in a negative light - it means self-denial, self-discipline, making up for our sins. In order to understand repentance, we must remember that repentance is different from conversion but it is related to it. Conversion means "to turn towards." It means a change in direction. Repentance literally means to "think again." It means to see things from God's perspective rather than from our own perspective.

Today's Gospel from Luke is one of the most important teachings offered on the need for repentance. Repentance certainly is an appropriate them for Lent because this is the time when the Church asks us, above all, to repent. We are invited to the mind of Christ rather than according to own wants and needs. Repentance is the process  of becoming a disciple by which we apply what we believe  to how we live. And that is an incredible transformation - to think as God thinks, to do as God does.

We learn much from the Gospel of Luke about the repentance Jesus requires of us. We are to turn from evil and selfishness. We are to discover the joy of following Christ and living a Christlike life. Are we up to the challenge?

In the letter from Paul to the Corinthians, he points to the tragedy in the desert of the exodus. Paul tells that those things happened as examples so that we might not do the things they did. How many things today can serve as examples for us so that we might not do the things other people do? How many people's lives, careers, and marriages are destroyed by addictions, infidelities, self-centerdness, short-sightedness, materalism, lust or greed?

These are very tragic things that we can learn from. With this knowledge we can change our lives so they don't happen to us. With this knowledge, Jesus wants disciples who can make that change, who can rethink what they are doing in light of the world around them. Unless we repent, and turn to God, the same things could happen to us.

Tragic things happen in our world today, as they happened in the day of our Lord. We have Columbine, the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and a lot more that I can mention. Further, it happens in our lives in a smaller ways, but they are just as real. Rather than blaming God and asking, "Why did this happen?," maybe this Sunday is a good time to stop and ask God to help us think about our own tragedies. Perhaps we should question the growth the Lord wants to take place in our lives through these experiences. Our readings today seem to have bad news and good news. The good news puts the bad news in perspective and can help us to live and move forward in hope.

All you need to do is to keep Jesus in the center of your life and move forward.

When we hear of the story of the call of Moses, we easily remember the burning bush that is not consumed. That is a dramatic enough to distract us from the rest of the story. But the rest of the story is the whole point!!

God knows what the people have been suffering. He wants to free them from their oppression, and He is calling on Moses to lead people to freedom.

The story goes on one step further and reveals God's very own name: I AM. I AM sent Moses to lead he people out of oppression.  The whole point is that God is there for His people and will lead them to safety and freedom. God is always there, and he will always be there for us as well.

Let us remember the essential ingredients for living closer to God: humility and repentance. We must move towards God. All of us should want to get closer to God than we currently are. After all, if we don't want to get closer to God, why bother going to church? The desire to get closer to God is a treasure, a precious gift from the Holy Spirit. To get the meaning and fulfillment we long for, we must remain in communion with God, living a life of repentance and conversion. Jesus in the Eucharist has the power to lead us to a fuller experience of joy here on earth.

Repent and believe in the Gospel

On Wednesday, February 10^th the Church starts its 40-day journey towards Easter with Ash Wednesday. As you approach the priest or deacon for your ashes that day, you will hear either “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

During these 40 days of Lent we are called by Our Lord Jesus Christ to deepen our relationship with God and with those around us. We are called to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and to remember that we are nothing without the God who made us. We are just dust, and to dust we shall return.

The Church offers us many ways to bring us closer to God and to our neighbor. We are called to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. We are encouraged to do our “Easter Duty” by going to confession sometime during Lent. We are to give alms to those around us that may not have as much as we may have. While doing these things, we are to repent of our sinful ways and to turn our lives over to Christ.

In the gospel assigned for Ash Wednesday, Our Lord gives us very clear advice as to how we are to do the things the church expects of us. It is the gospel Matthew, chapter 6. In it we are reminded by Jesus to, “Take care not to perform righteous deeds, in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 6:1). In other words, we are not to worry about what others think of what we are doing for the Lord. We are to serve the Lord in ways that are pleasing to Him without concern about what others say or think. The Lord goes on to tell us that we are to be generous with those around us, without bragging about it, “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Matthew 6:2)

Our Lord concludes with the advice to be to the point in prayer, “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words…” (Matthew 6:7). Be short and to the point in your prayer with God. A good way to pray is to take the scriptures assigned each day for Mass and sit and reflect on what the Lord is trying to teach you. Try to spend about 5 to 10 minutes every day reflecting on these scripture readings. They will bring you closer to the Lord, and you will find that peace that can only come from God.

Take this time during Lent to grow closer to the Lord and to others. Then you’ll have a truly joyful Easter!

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever!