One of the greatest reasons why Lent is such an intense moment of grace in the life of a Catholic, is that it reminds us of how we continually need to be prepared for what lies ahead. Advent, Lent, the Christmas and Easter seasons, and even Ordinary Time during the Liturgical Calendar Year – all of them are geared towards preparing us for the future, while bettering our lives in the present, and vice versa.
In the first reading, our Heavenly Father speaks about the blessings he has in store for those who cooperate with his grace, as he was wont to do with his specially chosen prophets. He speaks to Jeremiah about “… the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive.” A future covenant was in the works for God’s people. He goes on to describe what this covenant looks like: “Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour, or brother to say to brother, ‘Learn to know the Lord!’ No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest – it is the Lord who speaks – since I will forgive their iniquity and never call their sin to mind.”
While there’s a number of things to unpack in that citation, we should always ask; how does the Church interpret this? Whether it’s a scripture or a moral dilemma, we should always look to the Church’s teaching because it alone has been given the authority by Christ to safeguard Divine Revelation, and it alone was promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to lead it into “all truth.” So what does the Church say about this passage?
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find a clear answer to this question. In article 64 we read,
“Through the prophets, God forms his people in the hope of salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant intended for all, to be written on their hearts. The prophets proclaim a radical redemption of the People of God, purification from all their infidelities, a salvation which will include all the nations. Above all, the poor and humble of the Lord will bear this hope. Such holy women as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Judith and Esther kept alive the hope of Israel's salvation. The purest figure among them is Mary.”
In article 715 we read,
“The prophetic texts that directly concern the sending of the Holy Spirit are oracles by which God speaks to the heart of his people in the language of the promise, with the accents of “love and fidelity.” St. Peter will proclaim their fulfillment on the morning of Pentecost. According to these promises, at the “end time” the Lord’s Spirit will renew the hearts of men, engraving a new law in them. He will gather and reconcile the scattered and divided peoples; he will transform the first creation, and God will dwell there with men in peace.”
Therefore, the fulfilment of the kingdom of Israel is foretold through Jeremiah, and this was to be accomplished through the establishment of a New Covenant. Our Lord Jesus institutes this New Covenant by pouring out his blood and atoning for sin so as to make it his pure Bride, and Mystical Body (we recall how at the Last Supper he took the chalice and said, "Take this all of you and drink from it, for this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you. Do this in memory of me.") and by establishing his Church, which restores and fulfils the kingdom of Israel and perpetuates it through the Holy Mass and the communion of the people of God within it. Here it will suffice to recall the words of the Archangel Gabriel in Luke 1:32-33; “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” And to Saint Joseph, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” Matthew 1:18-25. Jesus, having been God from all eternity, assumes a human nature. In sacrificing himself as the Spotless Lamb of God, he fulfils the Old Testament Covenant by reconciling God to Man forever. The Church will proclaim his Kingdom throughout the world until the last day, and make peoples of every nation partakers in the New Covenant which was ratified through his blood. He presented himself to the Father, holy and unblemished, and the Father was with him, hearing his every cry.
From the Letter to the Hebrews today, we heard how “…he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears… and he was heard because of his reverence.” What a wonderful, clear description of the intensity and respect which animated Christ’s prayer. He prayed with “loud cries and tears.” Imagine that! That the Son of God felt he needed to cry aloud to the Father? How about us? How do we approach the Father? That’s a question we each have to ask ourselves in prayer itself. While we are in his presence, let us ask ourselves if we are approaching Him with enough, love, humility, and a clean conscience? Are we going to confession? Why not? Is it my pride? Brothers and sisters, behind every sin, if we dig deep enough, we will find a bit of pride. Sometimes, there’s enough pride so that we don’t even have to dig! How do we combat this ever-present pride in our fallen human nature? We address it by practicing a lot more humility.
In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks about the importance of dying to one’s self so that one may live in the spirit; having enough humility to place your focus on helping others, rather than obsessing over your own desires and needs. To move from egoism to altruism. Basically, to become a servant where denying yourself and being willing to take up your cross everyday, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, becomes your primary objective.
When Greeks heard of Jesus and came looking for him to speak with the legend in the making, he speaks to them about dying, like a seed, that unless it falls into the ground and dies, it cannot bring forth life. He was not only indicating to them that his followers would need to do likewise, and the way of the loving servant who spends himself on others for the sake of bringing forth life in Christ, but he was also foretelling how he himself would die so as to be a means of eternal life for those who believed and embraced him. For there is nothing more pleasing to the Eternal Father than a repentant sinner who tries to live their lives in honour of the Eternal Son. We read:
“The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
Think of that for a moment. The Almighty Creator of the Universe, of all that is seen and unseen, of every angel and saint, the Creator who needs nothing, and is beyond our imagination, not only forgives us in Christ, but will honour those who serve him. What kind of honour must this be? What kind of scale would you need to measure this divine honour? We give Christ a little of our time, and the Father gives us eternity. We give a cup of water to a homeless man, God will give us unending springs of life. We visit him in a prisoner’s demise, God will give us endless freedom as his sons and daughters. How do you measure the honour God gives a mere mortal? It involves that which no earthly honour can bestow: immortality in bliss never-ending. And remember, serving God doesn't always have to be difficult. Louise Arruda, a Secular Franciscan writes, "Serving God is easy. Just serve the person(s) who are where you are &/or where your heart is. To see Christ in our spouse, children, extended family, neighbours, colleagues, etc. is so satisfying." (1) Indeed, it brings out the best in us at the same time. Saint Francis began to shine once he began to serve Christ in the homeless and the lepers. So remember, as in his case, that your Father in heaven sees all things, meaning he doesn’t just see your sins, but he’s delighted in seeing how you are trying to serve his Son, and he will honour that with a glorified state of bliss that even the greatest minds can barely begin to imagine. Be of heart, and live for Christ who through his blood has redeemed us, for to do so is a special grace and gift from heaven and a special honour to the New Covenant people of God from every nation.
(1) Louise Arruda
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Serving God is easy. Just serve the person(s) who are where you are &/or where your heart is.
To see Christ in our spouse, children, extended family, neighbours, colleagues, etc. is so satisfying.
Thank-you Louise, for the wonderful reminder that Jesus' "burden is light, and his yoke is sweet".. truly, to serve him is "easy"... We have included your comment in the homily. God bless!
Thank you Father!
Welcome Sarah!