Homily: Tuesday - 8th Week in OT 2017 - The Joy of Sacrifice

Yesterday, we read how when challenged by Jesus to give up his possessions to come and follow Jesus, the rich young many went away sad. His heart clung to what was earthly, rather than trusting in the Lord to pursue the heavenly.

Today’s Gospel is a continuation of this scene. After the rich young man departs, the disciples were astonished when Jesus spoke of material possessions as an obstacle to the kingdom of heaven.
Peter then speaks up, “If you give up everything for the kingdom, you are left—quite literally, with nothing. You become one of the poor—an outcast. No wonder the rich man went away sad: Jesus was asking him to give up not just possessions, but his security, his position, his ego.

And Jesus responds to Peter, “that’s right…put everything at the service of God…your home, your wealth, your time, talent, and treasure, your life.” Even that most important bond of family is to be considered secondary to being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

But then Jesus added a promise. That everything you give up to follow him will come back to you in abundance. That’s a pretty big promise, but Jesus backs up the promise with his very life: emptying Himself on the cross led to resurrection and exaltation. This great promise is the glory and hope of all who embrace the Gospel.

What a wonderful Gospel to reflect upon on the threshold of the great Lenten season in which we are invited to follow Jesus into the desert to practice prayer, fasting, reliance on the providence of the heavenly Father. What you give up this Lent will echo into eternity. As Sirach said today, “The just one's sacrifice is most pleasing, nor will it ever be forgotten.”

Giving up chocolate and alcohol and snacking and little earthly pleasures will be rewarded, for sure. Giving up ego, stinginess, resentment, the unguarded tongue, will be rewarded all the more. Your “generous spirit” Sirach says, “pays homage to the LORD”.

Unlike the rich young man who did not realize the value and reward of his sacrifice, let us as Sirach says be generous in our sacrifices, be cheerful, to give with a “spirit of joy” trusting that your Lenten sacrifice will be rewarded, seven, and a hundredfold. For through our sacrifices and our Lenten practices we show the world the joy of following Jesus Christ, the joy of lives abandoned to the Divine Will of God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Church will experience the graces of profound renewal during this season of Lent.  We pray to the Lord.

That all families will recommit themselves to fervent prayer this Lent so as to grow in greater love and holiness.  We pray to the Lord.

That young people may have the courage to leave behind the empty promises of the world in order to pursue the things of God, and that the Lord may raise up vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and prepare engaged couples for truly Christ-centered marriages.

For those preparing to enter the Church at Easter: that they will be profoundly blessed in their preparation for full initiation into the Body of Christ.  We pray to the Lord.