Thursday, March 6, 2014

Homily: Thursday after Ash Wednesday - "Why do you fear to take up the cross?"

The book of Dueteronomy is one long speech, spoken by Moses, as the Israelite people prepare to enter the promised land after 40 years in the desert.  They stand on the precipice of a new life, their exodus from Egyptian slavery complete.  Moses, who would not enter into the land of Canaan, gives his farewell sermon as instruction and encouragement and warning for the generations that would be born in the promised land. 
The essential point of Moses’ sermon is simple: there are two ways available: the way of obedience to God and the way of disobedience.  We heard today, “If you obey the commandments of the LORD…you will live… , however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen…you will not”.  These roads lead to two different destinations just as surely as two different physical roads lead to two different physical destinations.  The way of obedience leads to inheriting all God’s promises.  The way of disobedience brings misery and failure.

Think of Lent as standing on the precipice of a new land.  And we are given a choice: will I follow the Lord more deeply through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving? Or not?

Added to this, we hear Jesus’ bold claim “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  Lent is an invitation to follow Christ more deeply through a share in the cross. 

There is no transformation without suffering, there is no new life without hardship.  The cross is the path of life, and we are invited at the beginning of Lent to share the cross more deeply that the Lord may bring us to new life.

Thomas Kempis, the author of the spiritual masterpiece “The Imitation of Christ” wrote of the Cross as the Royal Road to the Kingdom of Heaven.  “Why, then, do you fear to take up the Cross-, which is the road to the Kingdom? In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross. Take up the Cross-, therefore, and follow Jesus, (Matt. 16:24) and go forward into eternal life. (Matt.25:46) Christ has gone before you, bearing His Cross; (John 19:17) He died for you on the Cross, that you also may bear your cross, and desire to die on the cross with Him. For if you die with Him, you will also live with Him. (Rom 6:8) And if you share His sufferings, you will also share His glory.”


This Lent, see how the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ in which he has given you a share has become the tree of everlasting life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls

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