Homily: Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Thursday After Ash Wednesday (Deuteronomy 30:15-20) “Are You Ready to Enter the Promised Land?”

We contemplate the 40 days of penance that lie ahead of us today. Forty is a significant number in our Judeo-Christian faith. We remember that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, but we also remember that well before the time of Jesus the whole nation of Israel spent 40 years in the desert.

Israel was waiting to enter the promised land. After escaping slavery Israel had marched across the Sinai towards their new home, but they were turned away. The nation sinned. They worshipped a false God violating the first commandment. The people had to do penance. A new generation had to come into existence. The hope was that the renewed nation would be more obedient to the Lord.

Moses did not enter the promised land. He died before Israel crossed the Jordan River. The episode we read about today concerns that climactic moment when Israel has done their 40 years of penance and they are ready to take possession of their new homeland.

Moses reminds the people that they must not break the covenant again. God has given his people two tremendous gifts. One is the land that they will live on, a land flowing with milk and honey. The other gift is the gift of the book of the law. If the people of Israel adhere to the law, they will become a righteous people and they will be envied by the rest of the world.

Moses puts a copy of the law in the Ark of the Covenant and the Ark leads the people across the Jordan river into the land they will occupy. Even though Moses will pass away, the law will remain in place as a sign of God’s presence. The Law of Moses has remained in place to this very day in the Jewish community. If one goes into a synagogue there is a tabernacle in the worship space with the scrolls of the law within it.

We need to spend the Lenten season purging ourselves of our sin and studying Jesus’ teaching so that we may be prepared to enter a deeper union with God. Now is not the time to backslide. Easter is six weeks away.

Reflection Questions:

1.    Have I ever equated my Lenten journey with the journey of the Israelites through the desert? What deeper meaning does this offer me?

2.   How have I failed at following the teachings of Jesus? What am I most sorry for?

 Dear Parishioners,

Our RCIA candidates are a living symbol of our Lenten renewal. We have ten adults who will be celebrating Easter Sacraments this year. We also have several children who will enter the church at the Easter Vigil.

          This Sunday our catechumens and candidates will participate in the Rite of Enrollment of names. These men and women will enter their names in the Book of the Elect at 11 a.m. Mass. Later that day they will travel to Peoria where they will participate in a ceremony with other people who are joining the church from throughout the diocese.

          We are reminded by our RCIA participants that we are all preparing to renew our Baptismal promises at Easter. We recommit to following Jesus. We renew our vows. That is why we fast and pray.

          May God bless your Lenten Journey,

          Fr. Mark