Homily for 24 Mar 2017

24 Mar 2017

We hear it all through Lent, the call to return to the Lord our God, to put God first on our list of priorities.  And, really, that’s a pretty radical thing to do.  Not just because it’s counter-cultural, but because it requires a real shift in our own personal way of living in the world.  If we actually “return to the Lord our God,” and “love God will all our heart, soul, mind, and strength,” then life is going to be different—in some pretty basic ways.

For instance, for married couples, it might mean praying together sometime—making sure that God is a part of the relationship.  And that could be a totally new thing for a couple to do; to pray the rosary together every now and then, or to pray some other devotional.  Returning the Lord our God means that life will be different, in some basic ways.

Or, when we think about the church and what it means to love God above all things, well, maybe that means we need to reevaluate our priorities and where we spend our time, money, and energy.  Or, maybe as individuals, returning to the Lord means we get ourselves on a new routine of daily prayer.  And that all requires a real change in everyday life.

But, then again, that’s what Lent is about.  That’s what Christian living is about in general: reorienting our life so God is more central—not just in theory, but in practice.  And so, it’s good to consider: What changes in life might God be asking you to make, to reflect your new life in him?  And, whatever that change is, a good first step is to turn to God and say, “God, help me to make this change I know I need to make.  God, help me.”