First Sunday of Lent March 6, 2022
Surely Lent is not about cutting back on chocolate, praying automatically, or doing more navel gazing.
When we look at the scenarios of Ukraine, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, Central America, Nigeria and Madagascar, to name but a few countries where so much aid is needed, cutting back on chocolate, praying without thought and more self-reflection does not seem to be the answer, unless it leads to specific acts of love to our neighbour.
In the scriptures we have just heard, they speak to us of the temptations and desires of this world, our own human weakness and for us to acknowledge the need for Jesus in our lives to help us fight the many obstacles presented by systemic evil. That is the evil that is covered up by large institutions.
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the Israelites of the greatness and goodness of G-d revealed in G-d’s creation and through “signs and wonders” (Deut. 26.8) Moses also calls them to remain faithful to G-d’s plans and reminds that the “Lord heard our voices and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression”. (Deut. 26.7) If God can see all this pain, suffering and oppression, should we not also see those of our sisters and brothers in the Global South?
Pope Francis reminds us that we must be aware of the “signs of the times”. That is, we must be attentive and proactive for the cries for change heard throughout Mother Earth.
In this year’s campaign of Development and Peace called “People and Planet First”, we are being called to respond to the needs of those in the Global South, notably Cambodia, Madagascar and Honduras. Many people living here lacking proper land titles find business encroaching upon their property. It is similar to the way that the Israelites were oppressed by the powerful. And sadly, because of the corruption and unsympathetic governments and enterprises, there is an immoral exploitation of these people’s land and the people themselves. Included in this is of course the people of Ukraine, who have fled as refugees numbering over 1,000,000 or 1 in 40 inhabitants!
I invite all of us during this Lenten time to allow such events across the world to enter our hearts so that we will try to resonate with the suffering, affliction and oppression of our brothers and sisters to the South and find some small way to alleviate these conditions, as sadly, these events unfold.
Always we may remember Psalm 91 which says “Be with us, Lord, when we are in trouble”.
Often, we throw Greek words at you like “Kyrie Eleison, Alpha and Omega and Parousia”. Parousia meaning the end of time as we understand it, with the return of Jesus Christ, not the end of the world! Here is another Greek word: ‘Metanoia’ which describes a spiritual conversion resulting from changing one’s way of life towards Christ. In the Gospel we have just heard, we are reminded of Metanoia as Jesus denounces worldly temptations.
In the first temptation, Satan attacks Jesus’ hunger tempting Him to change stone into bread. Jesus responds with the words “one does not live by bread alone” (Luke 4.4) thus reminding us we need more than just material things in this world. In fact here in Canada, I don’t know about you, but I rarely ask, where do the material products that I use come from? Do I allow myself time to know how much the people of the Global South are paid for the goods which I take so much for granted. For we know well that they are not paid a fair day’s wage for a fair days work.
In fact, to quote Jason Cegayle, a representative of Development and Peace, from Manitoba, “Our hyper-capitalist consumption degrades the dignity of the human person”. Indeed, “have our possessions become more important than love for our neighbour?”
If we truly believe that we are the Body of Christ and that all humankind can truly be called our brothers and sisters, then we must invite the Holy Spirit to convert us deeply within our hearts. This means that we must find ways to reduce and reverse the harms caused by our daily consumption with the desire to put people and planet first.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, may we be guided by the Holy Spirit during our Lenten journey to better discern our actions, and to resist the temptation of structural sin. Because of the love of G-d, may we make good unselfish decisions, denounce temporary worldly attitudes; pursue what is just; and value and uplift the dignity of our neighbours.
May I suggest a practical way that we can put into action the content of this homily?
Make a donation to Development and Peace which has several projects operating in the Global South. You will be able to find details from the posters and handouts at the back as you enter the church.
And let us remember the words of today’s psalm, ““Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” For as the last sentence of today’s gospel warns, “When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.”
Its very simple:
Almsgiving is to love others
Fasting is to love yourself
Prayer is to love G-d
Lent is all about love
So may we always be prepared and act on the love in our hearts.