Homily – Third Sun. in Ordinary Time(B) ’12 Father Joseph
->I’d like to speak a little bit about what we heard in our First Reading today, from the Book of Jonah. There is an interesting dynamic here…conversion…Jonah’s conversion and the conversion of the Ninevites. Jonah is called to abandon his prejudice against the Gentiles and go, as God instructed him, to preach to them. The Ninevites are called to conversion thru Jonah’s preaching. We need to remember that not all of Sacred Scripture is strict history, but frequently, the accounts are parables employed by different authors to make a very real point. The Book of Jonah was not written by Jonah, but by an unknown author some three centuries later, who named his writing after Jonah, and the point he seeks to make is the need for the Jewish people to break from their narrow-minded religious bigotry; to recognize that God's love is for everyone..
->So…what is this “conversion” all about? Let’s put conversion in a present-day setting. The need for conversion is as present in today's society as it was in the times of which we have just been reading. Pope Benedict frequently speaks of the increasing secularization of our society and its willingness to frame laws without reference to the mind of God. His recently released publication, "Living Biblically" is, as he says, ”a call to be part of the great plan of salvation that began with Abraham and Moses culminating with the coming of Jesus Christ.” And it is possible to sense an unease in many people's minds over the rapid disappearance of "values" in our society; part w regard to an absence of trust amongst people and world nations.
->Conversion/repentance is not so much about sorrow for sin as it is about a reversal of life-style or behaviors. And…IT AIN’T EASY, IS IT? God fulfilled his covenant of love in Jesus Christ. Jesus, in obedience to the Father and out of love for you…for me…calls us to conversion. Actually, the word Jesus used means, “to turn completely around!” And so…He gives us the teaching of the Gospel, the guidance of the Church and especially the sacraments to help us. One of things a sacrament is…a visible signs employed by people to indicate their need for God's help. Every stage of life is matched by a corresponding sacrament, or sign, by which we indicate our desire to co-operate w the graces it gives: Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Orders, Matrimony and Anointing. I find this very consoling when I examine my own life & need for continuing conversion.
->What about society’s need for conversion? What does this mean for us as a comm. of faith…as a nation? It means: standing up for the holiness of all life at all its stages. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the “Gospel of Life!” It means building bridges among people who can so easily divide into warring factions and cliques. It means speaking up about the role of money, power, position and their capacity to distort the goodness of humanity…as God intended. It means guarding the dignity of sexuality and marriage in a world that cheapens them. It means guarding the holiness of the Sabbath and making weekly worship a priority as individuals, families and as a parish community. It means standing for the truth of Christianity in a world driven by hype, image and the inordinate desire to control and mold others.
->In a few short weeks, we will begin another Lenten journey. When the ashes are imposed on our foreheads and we will hear the blessed words, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” This sacred tradition is very powerful! It is not a superstitious gesture intended to protect us from judgment/damnation. It is a SACRAMENTAL, a sign of our need for conversion. Each time we pray/sing the words, “Lord, have mercy…Christ, have mercy” and “Lamb of God…have mercy on us.” These litanies remind us of the same need. Our sharing in the Eucharist is a strong sign of our desire to remain united with the One who calls us.
->Jesus calls us to change, to convert and repent and then to follow Him. What is it that you have to leave behind…what is it that I have to leave behind…to answer His call more sincerely?
