[Homily. Assumption Chapel. 28 February 2023.]
Today we have beautiful readings to accompany our journey towards repentance and conversion in this season of Lent.
The first is from the prophet Isaiah (55:10-11), the beautiful description of how the word of the Lord does not return to him void but accomplishes his will on earth; it is compared to the rain and snow from the heavens that do not return to the heavens without making the earth fruitful and securing the welfare of the human being. The natural circularity of rain and snow from heaven returning to heaven only after being fruitful on earth is compared with the divine circularity of God's word returning to God in heaven only after accomplishing his will on earth.
"Thus says the Lord:
Just as from the heavens, the rain and the snow come down
and do not return there till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;
it shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
In these beautiful images, interpreted from the sublimity of mature Christian faith, Isaiah has articulated how the divine Word, from the beginning with God and from the beginning God, enters incarnate into our world, dwells among us, works obedient to the Father's will to bring us life, life to the full. The Word manifests the fullness of his Father's compassion for us in his passion, and remains obedient to his Father's will, even unto death, death on a Cross. Having redeemed us with his blood, he is lifted up through resurrection back to heaven where he is established as King of heaven and earth.
Our Gospel for today recounts a crucial teaching moment when the incarnate Word was preaching the meaning of the Kingdom of God. The reading from Matthew is from the great Sermon on the Mount, and the lesson Jesus teaches us today is how to pray.
First, Jesus says, "Do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. … Your father knows what you need before you ask him." Prayer need not be lengthy; it can be short. It is not more effective if you pile novena upon novena and rosary upon rosary and take pride in the quantity of your words. Important in prayer is to encounter the Father through Jesus in the Spirit. In this context, Jesus, teaches us to pray with the few words of what is now referred to as the Lord's Prayer:
Our Father in heaven. He teaches us to address God not with the Old Testament's forbidding "Yahweh" or distant "Lord." Jesus teaches us to call upon God as Father, Abba, expressing mutual intimacy like when we would use Papa or Daddy or Dad.
Hallowed be thy name. Meaning: may you be glorified Father! In praying, Jesus taught that the primary focus is God, not one's self. And though God does not need our glorification, Jesus urged that our prayer and consequently our lives be such that the Father is glorified in them.
Thy Kingdom come. Jesus' preaching of the Kingdom of God was central to his message, and so he taught us to pray for the coming of the Kingdom. God was to establish his Kingdom through Jesus, his incarnated Word. His Cross and Resurrection were signs of the established Kingdom of God in the Kingdom of his Word, of Jesus, the Christ. For us who are often tempted by violence, murder, selfishness, ruthlessness, avarice or deceit in pursuit of my kingdom, we are urged to pray, "Thy Kingdom come."
Thy will be done on earth as in heaven. God's will was and is that his Kingdom be established for us through his incarnated Word, Jesus, the One Anointed to be Priest, Prophet and King, so that what God wills in love in heaven – the redemption of the human being - shall be done on earth. This echoes the beautiful words of Isaiah about God from heaven willing goodness on earth and it being accomplished by his Word, Jesus, at great personal cost, before he is lifted up to heaven. The dignity of the human being on earth is based on his or her being loved and redeemed by God. Contrary to God's will is all that deceives, misleads, and corrupts the human being by pulling him or her away from the loving God.
Give us this day our daily bread. Give us this day the food that we need for our physical survival. Give us the Bread that you prepare for us in the heavenly banquet to come. But give us also the Bread of Life, your Son, offered up for us on the Cross in love. In eating the Bread of Life one has life eternal. In consuming the Bread of Life we are consumed in his Body given up for us and his Blood poured out for us.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. God models forgiveness for us. We do not ask to be forgiven because we forgive first, but we ask to be forgiven because God forgives us first. Not however without genuine confusion, horror and remorse for our sin whose forgiveness was the Word on the Cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Do not let us be overcome by the snares of the Evil One. Rescue us from him.
The Lenten Season calls for conversion from sin and a return to God. He is a loving Father in heaven who calls us home through his Son in Love.
Father, Thy will be done!
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