A Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent

+ The liturgical texts of this third Sunday of Lent are full of conflict, danger and distress – from the afflicted and distressed psalmist of the Introit to the re-possessed man spoken of in the Gospel who ends up in a state that is far worse than he was previously.

So too, today’s Mass texts contain much instruction and consolation. The psalmist turns to the Lord in his distress, fixing his eyes upon the Lord and trusting Him to save him in his distress (Introit). The Gospel’s dispute is in fact occasioned by a miraculous healing. And in the Communion antiphon the psalmist sings of the sweetness of finding a home in the house of the Lord forever singing God’s praise – a reality very much at the heart of every monk’s vocation.

The life of the Christian is full of conflict, danger and distress. Baptism does not take away suffering or free will. Indeed, in one way it increases the danger, for if we strive to live by the standards set by Saint Paul in the Epistle of this Mass and banish impurity, covetousness and inappropriate conversation, if we refuse to throw in our lot with unbelievers in how we live, we shall be in conflict with the world. This can cause more than simply distress, especially when we must live and work in it.  There is the constant danger that the pressure will be too much to bear and that we shall apostatise.

The monk must also confront this reality. Whilst protected by the enclosure from some of the conflicts that rage outside, his battle can be more intense because there are fewer distractions and less places to hide from the temptations that arrive for us all.

Christians in the world and in the enclosure alike must face these realities. But so too they must turn to the same source of instruction and consolation. We must heed what Saint Paul teaches us. We must turn, with the psalmist, to the Lord for the help we need so that, in the words of the Gradual, our enemies stumble and melt away at the sight of Him.

Lent is, most certainly, the time to take up this battle anew. It may be that on one front or another we have given up the fight. It may be that the Enemy has succeeded in breaching our defences and has gained ground in our hearts and souls, inculcating vices where virtue should reign.

Iam hora est! (cf. Rom. 13:11) Now is the time to take up the battle once again. Our weapons are as familiar as they are powerful: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

In respect of prayer, we may do many things, but first we should pray the Sacred Liturgy. The texts of this Mass alone are more than sufficient to nourish our prayer and meditation this coming week (even though each day of Lent has its own proper and powerful Mass texts). Revisit them. Ponder them. Create sufficient space and time to allow God the Holy Spirit to speak through them. He shall. And if He moves you to contrition and amendment of life, seek the grace of the Sacrament of Penance and re-commence the fight against the world, the flesh and the devil with renewed strength. Confession is there precisely for that purpose.

Fasting and almsgiving are also basics. What we can do will depend on our state in life and our duties towards our families, our employment, etc. Nevertheless, if we are serious about taking up the spiritual weapons to fight off the Evil, one fasting and almsgiving are necessary, howsoever possible given our circumstances.

Conflict, danger and distress are realities for the Christian. So too are God’s healing mercy, consolation and strength. That is why the Church has us come to her altar at least on Sundays, for here the same Lord who worked miraculous healings works on us. We must do our part, of course, and take up the spiritual weapons He provides, but we are assured of victory if we but persevere in the fight. That is no small task, and for the grace so to do, and to support others in so doing, let us pray in this Holy Mass. +