7th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2023

What are you giving up for Lent? Lent, the Church’s Season of preparation for Easter, begins this Wednesday, and it is a long-standing tradition for Catholics to plan to make sacrifices to observe Lent. As children, we may have given up candy, going to the movies, our favorite television show, or some other enjoyable activities as our Lenten sacrifice. As adults, we may have continued sacrificing other things we enjoy.

In the pre-Vatican II Church, Lenten sacrifices were more structural. The Church mandated many of our sacrifices. Abstaining from meat was required every day during Lent. Eating meat was only permitted on Sundays. Daily fasting was also required during Lent. Today fasting and abstinence are only required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and we only need to go without meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent.

The Church didn’t do away with its former Lenten disciplines because they weren’t good, but rather made them voluntary in the hope we would approach our Lenten sacrifices with more reflection and a desire for permanent conversion in our lives. Unfortunately, some Catholics used that as a cue to stop making an effort to commit to any Lenten sacrifice. To many people, the days of Lent are no different from any other days of the year. 

I want to encourage all of us to commit to making Lent 2023 a season of conversion and a deeper relationship with God that lasts for more than the forty days of Lent. To do that, we must go deeper than committing to giving up the same things we sacrifice yearly. Before deciding to make a sacrifice this Lent, use these next three days to pray about what you want God to give you this coming Lenten Season. 

Fr. Joe Laramie wrote an article for America Magazine that caught my eye this week. He suggested that asking the question, "What do I plan to give up for Lent?", shouldn’t be our starting point. He recommended starting by asking ourselves what we want from God this Lent. What grace do we hope to have strengthened by our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during the coming forty days? When Easter morning rolls around, how do I want to have been changed by this Lent? How will this Lent have led me down the road to conversion? What will be this Lent’s lasting effect on me and my relationship with God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? 

Laramie encouraged readers to be honest with themselves. Look closely at areas of our lives that need transformation by God’s grace. Don’t fall back on the same old, same old. Don’t just do whatever we have done in the past. Looking into your heart to see what needs to be healed isn’t something we do every day. Opening our hearts and souls to see what we need from God is challenging. It is scary to admit we are vulnerable and needy, and it is humbling to admit we can’t do everything alone.

Laramie warns that after asking God for grace, we need to be open to the grace God decides to give us. It might be different from the grace we requested from God. It might be something much bigger and bolder than we planned for ourselves. God might be calling you to a completely different mission. One thing we can depend on is that God will definitely invite us closer to Him. Asking God to guide our lives will deepen our discipleship, and we will experience a more satisfying relationship with God.

Over the next few days, take some time for self-reflection. Look at where you are in your life of faith and ask yourself where you are going. Are you sitting on the sidelines, or do you have a plan to advance in your relationship with God? Inquire where you would like to head with your relationship with God. How is God calling you to get there? 

Our parish is planning ways for you to have a worthwhile Lent. We want you to grow in prayer. Do you pray every day or only when you have a need or feel desperate? This Lent, begin making daily prayer part of your routine. It can start with as little as ten minutes at whatever time of day is most convenient for you. Find a quiet spot and begin by just breathing. Relax and imagine Jesus sitting next to you, enjoying your company. Recognize that He is next to you, desiring to hear what you have on your mind. Sure, you will have wants and worries. God wants you to entrust them to Him but begin by thanking God for the good things you enjoy. As you get more comfortable in prayer, maybe read some scripture. Reading small excerpts from the Passion Narratives during Lent might be good. These are the four Gospel stories that recount Jesus’ preparation for His death on the cross. They are all a little different, and the differences have important insights for us.

Attending our 8AM daily Mass is also a good Lenten prayer practice. Setting aside twenty-five to thirty minutes for Mass and receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus at the start of each day can draw us closer to Him.

To assist your prayer life, we have a limited supply of these prayer aids. They stood out for me as I looked through a pile of samples a few months ago. This year is the Bicentennial of John Newton’s composition of the poem that became the hymn, Amazing Grace; that song is probably the most popular of all Christian hymns. The conversion story that goes along with the song is amazing grace, and the booklet has a daily prayer reflection on some of the song’s lyrics. Help yourself to a copy, and if you would like, take one for a friend.

The internet is a blessing because it makes available many good Catholic resources you can use during Lent. I encourage people to sign up for good resources like Dynamic Catholic’s Best Lent Ever. Every day you will be sent an email with an inspirational video message. The parish also uses Flock Note to send out weekly messages, which are very popular among parishioners. If you don’t get them, send us your email, and we’ll add you to the list. 

During the Sundays of Lent, I’ll preach a series of homilies on the topic, "When God Doesn’t Make Sense." We all question God when we experience suffering, pain, injustice, death, and loss, and we can’t help but wonder why an all-good and loving God allows such things. War in Ukraine and earthquakes in Turkey and Syria shake our faith. During Lent, we’ll examine our scripture readings for answers to these questions. Plan to be present here in church to listen to each of the homilies. If you have to be absent, remember we live stream our Masses on our parish website, www.holyredeemerchatham.org. This topic will be critical for your family members, friends, and neighbors who maybe have abandoned the faith because they feel hurt by God. Invite them to accompany you to church so they can have their questions answered.

Recitation of the Stations of the Cross will be held Each Friday at 4:30PM. A different set of reflections led by a parish group or ministry will be used each week. After the stations, you’ll be encouraged to stay for a simple Soup Supper. It will be an opportunity for parishioners to share some conversation and fellowship. The local Knights of Columbus will present a movie on the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta one evening.

Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation should also play an essential role in our observance of Lent. Every Catholic aware of committing grave sin must go to confession during Lent. You might say, "Oh, my sins are only minor", but even venial sins added together become a burden that weighs us down and damages our relationship with God. When we take the time to examine our consciences, we notice sins and patterns of sin we need to have healed by God’s compassion. Don’t be frightened to celebrate the sacrament. The feelings of relief and the opportunity for a fresh start with God are worth it. A Lenten Reconciliation Service will be held later in Lent but remember I’m in the reconciliation Room at the back of the church every Saturday from 3-3:45 pm. You can also make an appointment at a convenient time.

Registered parishioners recently received a Lenten letter from me. Enclosed was a Lenten folder. I want to encourage you to use the folder as an almsgiving opportunity this Lent. The folder asks us to set aside just 25 cents each day of the season for a total of $10. Proceeds from the folders will be shared with the Cape Cod Foster Closet. The Closet is a charity that assists foster parents who open their homes to welcome children who need to be separated from their families because of problems in their homes. It is a great sacrifice for families to do this, and the Closet assists them with clothing and other necessities.

Last year the US Supreme Court struck down the fifty-year-old Roe V. Wade ruling. It is something we have been praying for, for a long time. We must do our part by supporting families, especially families experiencing stress and turmoil. I hope you will join in this effort to help children in need. 

All of today’s readings speak about beginning life fresh and renewed. As the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land, Moses sets down God’s law to help them live peaceably. Jesus and Paul outline expectations for the Christian life. As we begin Lent this week, plan to live it so you will be ready to welcome the new life the Risen Christ brings every Easter.