NB. This is a "children's Mass."
3rd Sunday OT
Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP
St Anthony's Church, NOLA
The
Word of God reveals to us more than just the history of our faith –
the stories of the prophets, the heroes of the OT, the life of
Christ. The Word of God is more than a collection of wise sayings and
calls to righteousness. When we use the phrase “the Word of God”
we are saying a number of different things all at the same time.
We're saying “the Bible.” We're saying “the Son of God.”
We're saying “Christ Jesus.” We're saying “the living Church.”
In fact, as followers of Christ, baptized with water and confirmed in
the Spirit, we are also saying “us.” Yes, we too are the Word of
God sent out into the world to be Christ for others. In the beginning
God the Father breathed with the Spirit one word – Christ – over
the void and all things that are came to be. We are – down to the
molecular level – participants in the Divine Word, who is life and
life eternal. When we hear the scripture read at Mass, we listen to
God's voice. When we hear the Mass prayed, we listen to God's voice.
When we do all that we ought as followers of Christ, we listen to
God's voice, and we rejoice b/c who we are rings true when we turn
from sin and live in His Kingdom.
Jesus
begin his preaching with a simple call: “Repent, for the Kingdom of
Heaven is at hand.” This probably sounds like a churchy cliché to
you, or maybe a threat – “Turn or burn!” But it's actually an
invitation, an invitation to return to God and participate fully in
His kingdom. We're not to Lent just yet – we have exactly one month
from today – but the need for repentance is never far off.
Repenting of our sins can seem a bit old-fashioned, maybe even a
little scary but there is nothing easier. Everything we need to
return to God is given to us by God. He helps us turn b/c He wants us
to return to Him. We need to return b/c we are not whole without Him.
This is why He has given us His Word – in the scriptures, in His
Son, in the sacraments, and in His Church. . .us. And b/c we exist as
both sinners and saints we sometimes have difficult lives. When we
stray as sinners, we lose our way and the darkness makes it hard to
find our way home. But when we are saints, the world constantly
tempts us off the narrow way, and we struggle to find His peace. BUT
if we listen, listen carefully, His Word will speak to us and guide
us back to Him. We all have great teachers in our lives, people to
show us how to listen to God. Our parents, our grandparents, our
school teachers, our priests and deacons and religious. And most
importantly, God's saints! They know Him personally, and they want to
do everything they can to keep us on the narrow path.
We
are celebrating Mardi Gras right now – King Cakes, beads,
doubloons, parades – all the stuff that makes our hometown of New
Orleans famous all over the world. This is a time for us to celebrate
with our family and friends, and it is also a time for us to remember
that God made us – flesh and blood – to live in this world. But
He also made us live with Him in heaven. Whether or not come to live
with Him in heaven is our choice. He gives us everything we can
possibly need to make the right choice. So, when Jesus says,
“Repent,” he's telling us to look carefully and closely inside
and, if we need to, turn away from sin and return to him. We are –
each one of us – a word of God sent into the world to become Christ
for others. So, I ask you: will you be Christ for your family and
friends? Will you be Christ for those who do not yet know him? Will
you choose to the loudest, brightest, most colorful Word of God you
can be? You have everything you need! Go! Be Christ and speak his
Word!
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