On weekdays throughout ordinary time, I typically use for the celebration of Mass the second Eucharistic prayer, inspired by the anaphora of St. Hippolytus from around the year 215. But during the season of lent, I use one of the newer prayers, what is called the First Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation. It is a very fitting eucharistic prayer for the season of Lent, as the prayer contains many Lenten themes—acknowledgement of human sinfulness and our desperate need for God, Christ’s hands being stretched forth on the food of the cross for us, which we call to mind particularly on Good Friday; the prayer speaks of the compassion of God for sinful humanity, and ends on a great eschatological note speaking of our hope of standing as Saints among the saints in the halls of heaven once our earthly pilgrimage has come to an end and the new heaven and new earth which will be free from the corruption of sin and death.
I bring this up today because the beginning of that first Eucharistic prayer for reconciliation is directly inspired by the beginning of our first reading this morning from the book of Leviticus. In the Leviticus reading God is speaking to Moses, God says “Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.”
God is inherently holy—there is no evil, selfishness, impurity, sin or error within him. He is pure, selfless, completely self-giving love. And God is constantly at work throughout history for the reconciliation of sinful humanity and our sanctification—work that culminates in the self-sacrifice of Christ.
When God calls His people to be holy, He is calling us moral purity and righteousness. This involves avoiding sinful behaviors and actively pursuing a life in accordance with God's moral standards.
The call to holiness, as God is holy, means that our lives are to reflect God’s life. God is loving, just, merciful, and compassionate. Therefore, to be holy means to exhibit these qualities in our relationships, actions, and attitudes. It involves cultivating the divine virtues and striving to align our lives with God's nature. As we heard in the Gospel, our eternal souls will be judged by how we treat people in this life.
During Lent we are to seek the moral purity, righteousness, and holiness that God is clear about that He wants for us. That means abiding by those divine guideposts that illuminate our journey—the commandments. It means seeking reconciliation with God when we have sinned. It means cultivating the virtue, generosity, and selfless self-giving that we see in the life of Our Blessed Lord and reflected in the saints.
God desires holiness for his people, and the season of Lent calls us to seek that holiness wholeheartedly. May we respond with the utmost generosity to this call, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.
For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.
For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ Our Lord.
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