Homily For the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rev. Gerald Dalseth
February 19, 2012
Lent begins next Wednesday. We call it Ash Wednesday and we come to church to
receive the ashes on our foreheads as a sign that we are sinners and in need of repentance.
Lent is so hard to get into. Sometimes it is half over before we really take it seriously.
Perhaps that is why in years past we had special Sundays to count down the beginning of
Lent. Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays, were all celebrated before
Lent began to get us into the mood of this penitential season. In years past, this would have
been Quinquagesima Sunday, the Sunday before Lent began. So today I want to speak
about our Lenten observance so we can enter it in full swing. How will you observe Lent this
year? Have you set for yourselves a Lenten regimen?
Lent is really a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to help us get ready to celebrate
Easter with great joy! There is nothing like prayer to help us get ready for that great feast.
Let me make a few suggestions. There are Lenten booklets available for you at the
entryways of our churches. Take one home and read it daily. There is a meditation in it for
you each day. Pray the Way of the Cross at many of the times made available for you in the
mailing you received this last week, or just come in the church during the day and make the
way of the cross on your own. Station booklets are available at all the entryways. And how
can we forget daily Mass? What a gift it is to receive the Holy Eucharist each day! You are
invited to join that prayerful group that comes each day.
Then heed the call to repentance. When we come up on Ash Wednesday and receive
the ashes, remember what is said to you. “Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall
return.” “Repent and believe in the Good News.” Yes, we are sinners. We admit it. Then
come to church sometime during Lent and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Remember the Word of God that comes to us through the Prophet Isaiah today, “You
burdened me with your sins. It is I, I, who wipe out your offenses; your sins I remember no
more.” What a joy it is to receive God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation! The
mailing you received this past week will give you ample times and opportunities to receive
this healing sacrament
And by all means, practice works of charity during this Lenten Season. Remember the
four men in the gospel today who dropped the paralytic through the roof so Jesus could heal
him. Our works of charity during Lent are really works that bring people to Jesus. I don’t
expect you to drop people through a roof and let them down on a rope in front of Jesus. But
we can all pick up a Rice Bowl today and eat one sacrificial meal a week and put the money
saved into a Rice Bowl. Your sacrifice will help the starving of the world. Later in Lent we
have our annual Catholic Relief Services Collection. Your contribution in this special
envelope will help the many poor and starving of the world. There are so many good works
of charity that we can buy into during Lent. What work of charity will you do during Lent?
St. Paul today invites us to say “Yes!” to God. I invite you today not to say “No” to Lent
but “Yes” to Lent, this time of spiritual renewal. If we say “Yes” to Lent and follow through,
then we will be able to celebrate Easter with great joy! I invite you to make this Lenten
journey with me and I assure you, your Easter will be one of great peace and gladness!
Rev. Gerald Dalseth
February 19, 2012
Lent begins next Wednesday. We call it Ash Wednesday and we come to church to
receive the ashes on our foreheads as a sign that we are sinners and in need of repentance.
Lent is so hard to get into. Sometimes it is half over before we really take it seriously.
Perhaps that is why in years past we had special Sundays to count down the beginning of
Lent. Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays, were all celebrated before
Lent began to get us into the mood of this penitential season. In years past, this would have
been Quinquagesima Sunday, the Sunday before Lent began. So today I want to speak
about our Lenten observance so we can enter it in full swing. How will you observe Lent this
year? Have you set for yourselves a Lenten regimen?
Lent is really a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to help us get ready to celebrate
Easter with great joy! There is nothing like prayer to help us get ready for that great feast.
Let me make a few suggestions. There are Lenten booklets available for you at the
entryways of our churches. Take one home and read it daily. There is a meditation in it for
you each day. Pray the Way of the Cross at many of the times made available for you in the
mailing you received this last week, or just come in the church during the day and make the
way of the cross on your own. Station booklets are available at all the entryways. And how
can we forget daily Mass? What a gift it is to receive the Holy Eucharist each day! You are
invited to join that prayerful group that comes each day.
Then heed the call to repentance. When we come up on Ash Wednesday and receive
the ashes, remember what is said to you. “Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall
return.” “Repent and believe in the Good News.” Yes, we are sinners. We admit it. Then
come to church sometime during Lent and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Remember the Word of God that comes to us through the Prophet Isaiah today, “You
burdened me with your sins. It is I, I, who wipe out your offenses; your sins I remember no
more.” What a joy it is to receive God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation! The
mailing you received this past week will give you ample times and opportunities to receive
this healing sacrament
And by all means, practice works of charity during this Lenten Season. Remember the
four men in the gospel today who dropped the paralytic through the roof so Jesus could heal
him. Our works of charity during Lent are really works that bring people to Jesus. I don’t
expect you to drop people through a roof and let them down on a rope in front of Jesus. But
we can all pick up a Rice Bowl today and eat one sacrificial meal a week and put the money
saved into a Rice Bowl. Your sacrifice will help the starving of the world. Later in Lent we
have our annual Catholic Relief Services Collection. Your contribution in this special
envelope will help the many poor and starving of the world. There are so many good works
of charity that we can buy into during Lent. What work of charity will you do during Lent?
St. Paul today invites us to say “Yes!” to God. I invite you today not to say “No” to Lent
but “Yes” to Lent, this time of spiritual renewal. If we say “Yes” to Lent and follow through,
then we will be able to celebrate Easter with great joy! I invite you to make this Lenten
journey with me and I assure you, your Easter will be one of great peace and gladness!