Do not be discouraged: trust in God (HOMILY FOR THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

HOMILY FOR THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Deut.30:15-20; Ps.1; Luke 9:22-25

Do not be discouraged: trust in God

We have begun the season of lent in earnest. We are still very fresh in the resolutions or acts of contrition that we have resolved to maintain during this holy season. But then, we can be doubtful as to how far we can carry on with these Lenten observances. Sometimes the experience of shame felt when we fail to meet set targets, seems to suggest that we shouldn’t have set those targets in the first place. When we are focused on our weaknesses and how feeble our strength are, we become afraid that we may fall into guilt arising from failed attempts.

About this, the psalmist today is asking us to stop focusing on our feeble strength that seems inadequate to carry us through in our Lenten sacrifices. We should rather focus on the strength that comes from God. The man who places his trust in the Lord will always be blessed. For each day, let us ask the Lord for the strength to pull through. In the gospel reading of today, Jesus asked that we take up our crosses daily and follow him.

Part of the crosses we must carry daily is our weaknesses and the shortcomings that is associated with our personalities. All of us have a fair share of these. What we do about our weaknesses and shortcoming tells if we are carrying them as crosses or not. We could either try to keep overcoming or we give in to them. When we choose to overcome, we will continue to bear the pain that comes with struggling with the weakness. For example, one who is trying to overcome telling lies, will always feel that tension, mind burgling whenever he is tempted to tell lies but decides to tell the truth. But if he has given in to telling lies, he will not feel any tension from within when the temptation to lie comes; he will just lie effortlessly.

To choose to overcome rather than giving in, is what Jesus refers to as carrying our crosses daily. This is because, it is only when we are trying to overcome that we experience tension from within. So, the Lord knows that for the Lenten resolutions you have made, it will not be easy. At a point, it may look as if you are losing your mind. You may even be tempted to start counting how many days left to the end of lent.

Beloved, living righteously is like making an investment. It is always difficult at the time of sowing. But what can keep us going is the knowledge of what is to come. What is this knowledge? In the first reading, Moses said that if we choose life and good by obeying the commandments, we shall be blessed in the land and take possession of it. In the gospel reading, Jesus says that if we lose our lives for his sake, we shall save it. With these in mind, let us be resolute in overcoming the temptation to give up on our Lenten sacrifices.

Remain blessed!