February 21, 2021
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- The homily of the Mass with the Rite of Election
- Msgr. Gervasio's homily for the other Masses
- Deacon Kevin's homily
First Sunday of Lent – A
Deacon Kevin O'Boyle
Good Morning-
Today is the First Sunday of Lent. Lent is that season of preparation that commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before he began his public ministry. So let me ask you—Do you feel like you are in a desert? As we experience weeks of snow and cold temperatures, it may be hard to acknowledge being in a desert. But in many ways we are cut off. Starting with the weather, heavy snow storms have a habit of cutting us off from others. We cannot travel easily. Just as if we were in a desert, our physical presence with each other is cut short.
But, this year, we did not need the snow to feel isolated. The pandemic has even more force to keep us cut off. We cannot see our loved ones in person. How long has it been since we felt comfortable giving a hug? Or even a handshake? We are, in this sense, living in the seemingly endless desert that is COVID 19. In this sense, it should be easier than ever to begin to sense what Jesus felt, cut off in the desert. Of course, we do not have the personal attention of the devil that Jesus had—tempting him to end his isolation even though it was important to his preparation for ministry, not to mention the danger of letting the devil lead us anywhere. But we do have that same devil tempting us in our lives. And because we are isolated, we do not have the resources we normally do to help us fend off the evil one, most notably for many of us, easy access to the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation.
Let’s look at our readings and see what they say about isolation. The first reading speaks of Noah and how God held off the flood until the ark was built. Still, for the days of the flood, Noah and his family would be isolated. Even the animals would be cut off from the environment they were used to living in—and from others of their kind. And yet, in the end, God stayed with Noah and would help him and his family start over. God did not abandon his faithful people, despite the flood. In the end, He forms a covenant with him, promising to never again destroy the world in this way, and giving the rainbow as a sign of this.
In our second reading, we are treated to a selection from Peter which was used for baptismal catechesis in the early church. It recounts the Paschal mystery—Christ’s sacrifice for us and his ministry. It also makes the connection between how Noah was saved and how the sacrament of Baptism was foreshadowed by this. Recall that during this period in modern days, those people preparing to enter the Church through RCIA are in an intensive final preparation period to receive the sacraments of initiation. This connection between Noah and Baptism should be particularly comforting to them. Showing, as it does, how God stayed with his people with Noah—and how his saving from the flood was akin to the Baptism they soon will receive.
Finally, in the Gospel, Mark tells us, in his classically brief style, of Jesus being in the desert, tempted, and ultimately launched on His mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
So what does this tell us for our desert today? It reminds us that however severe, and however long, God does not abandon His people to the desert. He is always present, waiting to help them. How should we acknowledge this? The church teaches 3 traditional ways—prayer, fasting and tithing. Prayer is something we are always called to, most especially in times like this. Our parish offers many opportunities for prayer during this season. We should all look at this list and find perhaps a new way of talking to our God; I would personally invite you to explore the weekly pro life rosary we offer in a virtual way on Wednesday nights.
I am obviously not the best proponent for fasting. However, I would note that fasting, in this sense is not just from food. Giving up other things we enjoy to make time for family or prayer or good works would equally be a fast.
Finally, tithing is not just money, although that is a part of it. Tithing calls us to give of our time, talents, and money. There are many ways we can do this in the parish, our communities, and the world- starting in the world of our family.
And so, welcome to our desert. We will spend the next 40 days celebrating Lent. We should look for new ways to share our prayer, fasting and tithing to the benefit of others around us, knowing that we will be recognized by God for these acts of charity and that he will never abandon us. And that is something to think about this week.
God Bless.
1st Sunday of Lent
Those Ubiquitous Temptations!
Msgr Thomas Gervasio
The Gospel of the 1st Sunday of Lent always takes us to the desert where Our Lord was tempted. Today, we hear St. Mark’s account which is not as detailed as that of the other Gospels. Mark is straightforward. He simply states the fact that Our Lord went into the desert for forty days where he was tempted by Satan. In this experience, Our Lord more closely united himself to us. Fully human, Jesus could identify with the struggles and temptations that we experience. The author of the letter to the Hebrews says: “We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15)
No one is exempt from temptations. They will always be a part of life. When asked when temptations would cease, a bishop replied, “Twenty minutes after you are in the tomb.”
A temptation is an attraction or an enticement. While it can be an enticement to do good—for instance, you might be enticed to donate a thousand dollars to the parish this week. That would be a good temptation. However, we more often view temptation as an invitation to do something wrong or sinful. Temptation in and of itself is not a sin but an enticement to sin. The sin lies in succumbing to the temptation.
Where do temptations come from? They certainly do not come from God. They may come from the devil, but it would wrong to think that all temptations were diabolic. Most temptations come from the world around us or from the deep-seated forces within us, our imperfectly controlled passions—so many connected to the seven capital sins: envy, pride, lust gluttony, greed, anger, and sloth.
Our Lord’s temptations did not come from within him, but from without, from the devil. The devil’s intent was to divert Our Lord from his mission of salvation.
The devil tries his best with us—to divert us from the path of virtue. He wants to disrupt our discipleship. Sometimes he even uses others to convince us to dismiss the teachings of Christ and the Church and adopt the mind and ways of the world. Consider how insidious and persistent was the devil in the lives of St. Jean Vianney and St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) to “derail” their work to bring people to Christ through their ministry in the confessional.
We each have our own struggles with temptations. How can we deal with them? I would offer three suggestions:-
Avoid the places, people, and situations that “trigger” temptation especially when we are anxious or tired. At times we linger with temptations, sailing very close to sin, thinking, “I’m strong. I can resist.” Don’t bet on it.
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Strengthen your life of prayer…the Mass, Rosary, Eucharistic adoration, the Sacrament of Penance. Staying close to the Lord is vital.
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Keep active. Keep healthy company and healthy hobbies. There is truth in the statement: “Idleness is the devil’s workshop.”
Temptations we will always have but we should not become anxious or discouraged by them. Pope Benedict’s reflection on the Lord’s Prayer is encouraging:
“When we pray, ‘Lead us, not into temptation’ we are saying to God, ‘When you send me those trials, when you give evil some room to maneuver, as you did with Job, then please remember that my strength goes only so far. Don’t overestimate my capacity. Don’t set too wide the boundaries within which I may be tempted and be close to me with your protecting hand when it becomes too much for me. Free me, Lord from all evils, past present, and future. By the intercessions of the saints, give peace in our day. Come to my aid with your mercy that I may be ever free from sin and protected from confusion. May my gaze never be diverted from the living God.
1st Sunday of Lent [B]
Homily for the Mass with the Rite of Election
Msgr Thomas Gervasio
Lent is most often thought of as a 40-day period of repentance and renewal, a season of a greater prayer and almsgiving, a time of self-denial in preparation for Easter when we renew our baptismal promises. But this is only “one side of the coin.” Lent is also the time when catechumens begin the final, more intense preparation to receive the Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist the Easter Vigil.
Today our parish catechumen, Gabriele Nieves, takes a major step toward the sacraments with the Rite of Election that will take place at this Mass. Having already undergone a period of instruction, the Church confirms Gabriele’s “election” by God to pursue the final steps towards the sacraments. Her name will be inscribed in the “Book of the Elect: as a pledge of her fidelity.
The Rite of Election is so important an act that it is celebrated at the Cathedral with the Bishop presiding. However, in this year of COVID restrictions, Bishop O’Connell has granted pastors the faculty to celebrate it in the parish.
Today our parish and diocese rejoice in the election of many catechumens in our four-county diocese. Each Elect has a story of how the Lord was at work in their lives, inviting them to a life a faith in the Catholic Church. Whatever the story, the Lord says to the Elect: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine…It was not you who chose me but I who chose you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” Today Gabriele and catechumens throughout our diocese leave the church not as catechumens but as God’s Elect.
Elect not by any casting of ballots but by God’s own initiative. With Lent, the Elect enter the final stage that led them the waters of baptism, to the table of Christ’s Body and Blood, and to being sealed with gift of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s first reading points the way. The account of Noah and the flood is a rather dark tale. God appears wrathful and vengeful, but the Church has always seen it was an allegory of baptism.
God ends one life to begin another, out of the calamity of the flood, he brings new life. Humanity is recreated and enters into a new covenant with God.
This is what God wants to accomplish in the Elect and all who are baptized. He wants to make us into a new creature.
Baptism involves a generous “yes” to the Lord who raises us up to the dignity of the children of God. Baptism also involves a firm “no.” It means rejecting all that is incompatible with the Gospel. There will always be that struggle against sin, but with humility and courage we can be reconciled to the Lord who is rich in mercy.
In living out this gift and mystery, we are never alone. Catholics are not lone rangers, but members of a community, a family, which is the Church established by Christ. The Church tells us that “after the Rite, parishes should surround the Elect with prayer and that by good example, lead them to Christ. In a particular way, this is the role of a sponsor and our RCIA team.
Today we rejoice with Gabriele and all the Elect. They come to the Church that has it flaws and weaknesses but is always the Bride of Christ who proclaims the Word of God and brings us the sacraments of God’s healing love. It is a Church that has been called, the “Garden of God’s grace.” With our prayerful support, let us lead Gabriele to that garden.