23 February, Monday — The choice is yours, and mine.

Monday of the 1st Week of Lent

Lev 19:1-2,11-18
Mt 25:31-46

“…in so far as you did this to one of the least of these….. in so far as you neglected to do it to one of the least of these…”

The choices we make, more than the words we speak, determine where we will spend eternity.

Even 56 years later, I still shamefully recall when I was a girl of ten, and again 25 years later, in nearly the same circumstances of ‘not doing’. The not doing was such a small thing, acknowledging a friend’s little sister and later a friend and her mother. I literally pretended I didn’t see them at a party. WHY? I couldn’t be bothered to leave my small, ‘cool’ group to say hello. To even acknowledge them, when I could see out of the corner of my eye, that they were trying to get my attention from across the room.

I was too busy with the cool crowd. Couldn’t they see that….?

Sins not of murder, theft, adultery, etc, but sins of ‘not doing’ haunt me still. Yes, I did confess both –- and I’m sure I did it in tears — and I was absolved; yet the self-inflicted scar of my intentional unkindness remains. 

Today’s readings for the first Monday of Lent are connected in all manner of ways.  In Leviticus, because it is filled (in the today’s mind) with archaic rules, it is easily skipped over (even while taking the time to read it).  But Chapter 19 begins with words that we need to be constantly reminded of, “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy”.  And then it goes on to reiterate the 10 commandments listing some specifics under the umbrella of those commandments, lest we try (and we absolutely try) to hide behind the exact letter of the law to excuse our behaviour, or make excuses due to our particular circumstances. Today, the secular world, and even many Christians, focus (incorrectly) on love, acceptance, and tolerance as the priority of Christ. BE HOLY – that is the teaching given to us from Christ, above all else (and it is ignored in the secular world that is choking us, and incredibly even among many who call themselves Catholics). Holiness means God and His commandments take PRIORITY — above all else. 

Being holy isn’t easy at all –- it is difficult. Without Christ in our hearts, it is impossible.

The Psalm for today reminds us that the Lord’s words are spirit and life; that the Lord is: Perfect. Trustworthy. Right. Clear. Pure. True.

In today’s gospel, the Good Shepherd will separate those who choose to follow Him and His words, and those who choose not to. Giving each group what they asked for in their daily life by their daily choices, i.e. to be close to Him for eternity, or not. Through the Free Will given to each of us every second of our lives, God gives us what we desire on this earth and continues it into eternity. 

The gift of our free will allows us to follow whoever we want -– whenever we want, for as long as we want. The gift of our free will allows us to walk with, toward, or away from Jesus, over and over again. The gift of our free will allows us to be our own master and to pick and choose which words of His to agree with, to act upon, and which words to ignore, skim over or manipulate. 

There are innocent people in jail, because human beings are the shepherds, the judge and jury of actions made in this world. We each have to pay (suffer the consequences) for our own actions. In contrast, there are no innocent people in hell, because the Good Shepherd is the judge and jury, and the blood of Christ crucified has paid the debt of our actions, rendering us free. Innocent Christ being scourged for our indiscretions is what paid the penalty for our actions. Innocent Christ hanging on the cross, serving the time for our sinful actions. It is the holy, the innocent, the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ who paid it all. Jesus Christ suffering in a way that no other man could, or would, accepting the consequences for every action against God.

Lent has arrived. You may be fully engaged in the plan you started on Ash Wednesday; you may have already ‘fallen off’ your Lenten plan; you may have started Lent without a plan. I’ve been a part of each of those ‘clubs’ many times. What matters is whether you want to be transformed this Lent, or not. Jesus Christ is our Saviour at every – at all — and any – moment, but we must accept His saving grace. We must try (again) today, begin again and be transformed. With the help of Christ, we can be transformed and rise again.

I will rise again as peaceful as if it were the first, knowing my weakness and knowing, Lord, your great mercy. And so, if I should fall even a thousand times a day, a thousand times with perfect repentance I will say immediately, ‘Nunc coepi’, now I begin. — Venerate Bruno Lateri

Transformation happens only with surrender, and Lent is the time for true surrender to God’s will. Jesus surrendered fully to the will of the Father, and because of his compete surrender –- visible and tangible at Lent in ways that pierce our heart and mind (especially for those who have seen The Passion of Christ with Jim Caviezel , which my family watches every year during Holy Week).  Our free will allow us to say YES to Christ – to invite Him – and His saving grace into our hearts, our minds, our bodies, into our daily life to transform us.

As we begin this Lent, let us make it one that impacts all our days so that we don’t simply celebrate Easter on Easter Sunday, but in a way that we honestly become an Easter People.  It begins with surrender to His holy will.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; fill the hearts of those who desire to be faithful; fill the hearts of those who want a change but don’t even know where to begin because they don’t know, or barely know, You. Come Holy Spirit, be among us and give us the grace to be open. 

Thanksgiving: Father God, thank you for this time of Lent. This time of reflecting, pruning, forgiving, this time of SURRENDER. We ask for the grace to notice You and be transformed.