Homily: Friday of the 1st Week of Lent - Radical Change of Heart

Today Jesus sets some pretty high standards for all of us. “Unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter the kingdom of God.” How could our holiness possibly "surpass" that of the Pharisees? They prided themselves on following every letter of the law—observance of the 613 commandments found in the Torah, their concern for ritual purity was surpassed by none other.

It seems as if Jesus is demanding the impossible for his disciples.

Remember on Ash Wednesday, we heard the Gospel passage about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Jesus condemned those who like to parade around, appearing to give alms, or appearing to pray, or appearing to fast. Jesus calls us beyond the mere appearance of following religious laws. He condemned these people who were concerned with mere appearances as hypocrites. The word hypocrite, comes from the greek word meaning, “mask-wearer”. Jesus doesn't want us to act as if we are praying, he wants us to really pray, from the heart. He doesn't want us to just act as if we are charitable, he wants us to really give, to really sacrifice for the good of others.

Jesus saw many of the pharisees as hypocrites, more worried about wearing the mask, acting, appearing to be righteous and in God's friendship. What Jesus teaches is for us to seek radical change. Radical means, going down to the root. To change not just our outward actions, but our inner attitudes.

This sort of inner conversion requires deep examination of our motives. Not only seeking repentance for my road rage, but seeking to change the part of my heart which gets impatient when things don't go my way. Not only avoiding stealing and murdering, but changing the part of my heart that needs to get in the last word when I'm arguing, to change the part of me that takes delight in sharing pieces of juicy gossip, that likes to put my mother-in-law in her place. Not only do we need to avoid stealing, but change the part of us that avoids charitable giving of our time, talent, and treasure.

Radical change requires radical prayer and self-examination in light of the Gospel. Frequent sacramental confessions which go to the root of our selfish attitudes are very helpful in allowing the Lord to change us from the inside-out.

May the Holy Spirit help us to make serious and honest examinations of our lives, motives, attitudes, and habits, and come to that radical change of heart to which the Lord calls us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.