1st Week of Lent 2019 - Monday - Holy Compunction

The readings and prayers of the first half of Lent are aimed at arousing in us the disposition of compunction. There’s a word you might not have heard for a while: compunction. Actually, the prayer of blessing before the dismissal on Ash Wednesday used that word, “Pour out a spirit of compunction, O God, on those who bow before your majesty.”

Compunction comes from the word puncture.  It is something that pierces us.  It pierces through our illusions, it pierces through the haze of our self-delusions and lack of recollection and our failure to repent.

Compunction is the profound realization of the effect of our sins—we offend God with our sins, our self-indulgent behavior has real damaging effect on our relationships. Our sins are real missed opportunities to grow in holiness.  Compunction is a real reminder of time wasted by our laziness, and how often we have turned to worldly things to fill our hearts instead of engaging in the works of the Spirit

Just like a pin stuck in a balloon causes the balloon to deflate, so too, holy compunction deflates our inflated egos, it pierces through our self-deceptions and brings us to sorrow for our failures to live faithfully as disciples of Jesus.

Compunction: a great word—knowledge of our sinfulness, sorrow for our sins, repentance, the desire for God’s mercy, the desire for deeper conversion, all wrapped up into one word.

Examining our conscience in light of the commandments, such as those who read this morning from Leviticus should bring us to compunction: “Have I stolen, have I defrauded another, have I born hatred for my neighbor, and loved my neighbor.”  Compunction moves us to repentance for not seeking to be holy, as God is holy.

Likewise, the reading from Matthew’s Gospel should move us to compunction: acknowledgement and repentance for turning away from the calls of the hungry, the thirsty, the imprisoned, and the sick. Failures for which we will be judged.

May our Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, may bring us to compunction, and ready our hearts to bear the cross with Jesus, to die with him, that we may rise with him and be judged worthy of eternal life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the season of Lent may bring the most hardened hearts to repentance and bring purification from sin and selfishness to all people.

For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through fervent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence.

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.

Homily: Friday - 4th Week of Lent 2017 - The hour is near

The "hour" of Jesus is a noticeably prominent theme in John’s Gospel. The word "hour" sometimes refers simply to a short period of chronological time (a 60-minute period during the day). More often and more importantly, however, "Jesus' hour" refers to the climactic event of his death and resurrection, which the Fourth Gospel also refers to as his "glorification".

Jesus says to his mother at Cana: “My hour has not yet come”. As Good Friday approaches, he rhetorically asks Andrew and Philip: “Should I ask my ‘Father to save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.”. And at the Last supper, Jesus lifts his eyes to heaven and prays, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you.”
In John’s Gospel, it is clear that Jesus is utterly aware of who he is and what he is about: he is the Son of the Father come to do the Father’s will. He prepares—he measures his time—for his hour, and he proceeds to this hour with confidence, trust in God, undistracted.

What about us? As we make this Lenten journey? Do we do so recollectedly, measuredly, cautiously, reverently of the hour. As we go through our day. are we conscious that “this is Lent”, this is the hour for me to glorify the Father through my Lenten penances? This is the hour for me to seek God’s mercy, the transformation of my heart, to become more like Christ who embraces suffering for the salvation of the world?

Or do continue to allow ourselves to be distracted by the noise around us and within us? The quiet of Lent, the silence that should mark our days, the putting away of non-essentials, these practices should help us quiet down, to focus on the hour.

One of the Saints even cautions us to “Beware of much speaking, for it banishes from the soul the holy thoughts and recollection with God.”

By nurturing this Lenten recollection, we unite ourselves to Christ in this hour, and prepare for the hour when we will be called upon by God to witness, to suffer, to endure the trial, to persevere in faith, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For greater devotion in our Lenten prayer, greater self-restraint in our Lenten fasting, and greater selflessness in our Lenten almsgiving.

That civil leaders will use their authority to protect the dignity of human life and the well-being of the poor, especially the unborn.  We pray to the Lord.

For young people, that they may be kept safe from the evil distractions of the world, and be brought up in faith-filled homes, that they may believe in the importance of loving and serving the Lord with their whole hearts.

For those preparing to enter the Church at Easter, that these weeks of Lent may bring them purification and enlightenment in the ways of Christ.  We pray to the Lord.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation or illness: that the tenderness of the Father’s love will comfort them.  We pray to the Lord.