Homily from OLPH School Mass 3/17/2023
Yesterday [3/16/2023] marked the halfway point in Lent [20 days to go]. If we were going to Orlando, halfway would be 524 miles or 8 hours, halfway to Los Angeles 1371 miles or 24.5 hours., and since it is St. Patrick’s Day halfway to Dublin 1663 miles or 3 hours.
Think back to Ash Wednesday, you received ashes in the form of a cross on your far head and heard “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Our first reading [I Peter 4] reminds us to pray. Today we should take some time to prayerfully reflect on how our Lenten is going. To review what we are doing, why we are doing it and how we are doing? Maybe this story can help us.
Rachel Naomi Remen share a story about her grandfather. When she was four, he gave her a paper cup filled with dirt and told her to put water in this cup every day, something may happen.” One morning three weeks later, there were two little green leaves. Rachel could not wait to tell her grandfather. She said, “And all it needs is water, Grandpa?” He responded, “No, dear Rachel. All it needs is your faithfulness.” [“A seed is planted” - Connections]
My wife and I were blessed by our children and friends for our 25th Wedding Anniversary w/ a trip to Ireland. We visited a little town Sligo [SLY-goh] located in Northwest part of Ireland. Our tour guide took us to a small park that during the Penal Laws or Times [1691 to 1782] - the Irish would walk 5 or 10 miles for Mass; it had a stone altar that was hidden away because the British at the time outlawed Catholicism. Anyone caught as Mass risked imprisonment or worse; but they were faithful. You can feel the holiness when you walk on those sacred grounds.
Our Church is also sacred ground and Lent reminds us of how fortunate we are to have our school, our parish, our teachers, parents and our priests. Their faithfulness enable us to have Mass and learn about the Faith. Our Gospel remind us to “not be afraid”, the Lord is with us.
Think about what you promised to do for Lent and recommit to be faithful over these next 19 days; being faithful is a great gift.
Today we celebrate St. Patrick, who was kidnapped as a 16 year old by Irish raiders and enslaved in Ireland. He later escaped, studied became a priest, then a bishop and returned to Evangelize Ireland. There is a legend that St. Patrick used a Shamrock to teach the Irish about the Trinity. St. Patrick was faithful and Ireland became Catholic. Your faithfulness can be your Gift to God today, for the rest of Lent and for the rest of your life.
May God Be Praised.
What a wonderful read, thanks
ReplyDeletePraise God.
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