My friends, I would like to begin this homily quoting Julia Walsh, a young woman writer for the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) who a few years back, wrote words that I feel lay out quite well what the readings for this 5^th Sunday in Lent are trying to tell us.  Additionally, even though her words are some six years old, they seem to capture the times in which we are presently living.  She is speaking of the sin of racism in the first clip, but we can apply it to other “isms” as well, “sexism” for another.

          Whether I like it or not; I participate in the evil of racism every time I enjoy my white privilege.  When I feel the tinge of excitement over seeing a “run-down” neighborhood flipped into an area  with funky shops and remodeled homes (that’s what gentrification is), I’m ignoring the plight             of the poor.  When I savor easy access to healthy food and transportation without anger for the             lack of attainability my black and brown sisters and brothers have of such basics, I’m failing to            love.  And when I experience nothing but respect and kindness from police officers and assume             it’s everyone’s experience, I’m turning away from the truth.

  Julia Walsh continues in a broader sense:

          There is a major cost for shrinking from naming evil.  Evil creeps through every society and             crawls into the hollows of our hearts, where our deepest fears lie dormant.  Evil crawls into the             places where we hold our dreams and desires, clings to pride and comforts and subtly shifts our             understandings, gets us to justify our destructive behaviors.  If we see how evil lurks, ready to             convince us of lies, then we might be able to name it, confront it in ourselves, each other.  If we             name the evil, then we can have power over it; we can change.

   So, let us leave Julia Walsh’s words for now in order to name the messages of today’s Scriptures for this 5^th Sunday in Lent. Once again, as through many of the readings chosen during Lent for our reflection, we see a God who has shown us, over-the-top love—we recall the beautiful story of “the Prodigal” from last Sunday’s gospel, and this week is no exception.

   Isaiah tells us that the past doesn’t really matter—that according to our God, the Israelites and ourselves, can start again, that our God, “is doing something new” [!] In the desert, our God will, “make a way.”  And we must proclaim too with the psalmist in 126, “God has done great things for us, we are truly glad” [!] Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, would, in my mind, agree with Isaiah’s message. And in John’s gospel selection today, our brother Jesus lets us know once again, the Creator’s wish for each of us –in the story of the couple caught in adultery – we can always start again – and additionally, none of us can judge another, as we are all sinners, even when, as the NCR writer suggested above, we aren’t aware of our sin.  “Let the [one] among you, Jesus says, who is without sin, throw the first stone.” 

   We then see the great compassion for another of our brother Jesus as he addresses the woman whom the men have so shamelessly dragged before him, not with any concern for what she either did or didn’t do, but in an attempt to catch Jesus in a violation of the law.  If he speaks in favor of her against the law that “she must be stoned,” he is in trouble, and if he supports the law, he speaks against his own message of love and is equally in trouble. 

   Jesus cleverly ends their charade by showing the Pharisees and others, that they must first look at their own sins before judging another’s. He then moves in love and compassion toward the woman who in his society must bear the brunt for the two “caught” in adultery. 

   It is worth a brief aside to lift up that the Priests for Equality version of the Scriptures that we use at All Are One, is the only text, among all those out there that mentions that “a couple” was caught in the act of adultery.  This fact, that adultery takes “two” is an obvious one, so why not mention it, we might ask.  This is one of those sins that Julia Walsh referenced in the NCR article—when something is done so long, we don’t even see it anymore. 

   Women as we know had no power or status in Jesus’ time unless they were someone’s daughter or wife—and without that relationship, they had to fend for themselves in the best ways that they could.  Jesus was aware of this injustice where women were concerned, thus he could show the woman in this story some compassion and understanding.  Yet, wanting the best for her – “doing something new, finding a way,” as the prophet Isaiah said our God helps us to do, Jesus “didn’t judge her,” but told her, in future, to try and find, “a better way.” 

   We can perhaps see from this gospel story how Jesus was truly upsetting social life as he found and witnessed it – calling to task laws that were so unjustly weighted against women, children, and the poor.  No wonder the powers-that-be wanted to crucify him! 

   Now, as we bring this homily to a conclusion, I would like to call our attention to the tendency of us 21^st Century humans to look down on the unjust actions of the men in today’s gospel story who have abused the woman in question to satisfy their need to bring Jesus down.

   This gospel calls us to look at our own sins in our present day:

• Our country still lives with the sin of racism—for those, not black, we call that “white privilege,” realizing how it truly is better, as our society is set up, to be white than to be black. And, as we know, this evil sin has been stoked in our present day.
• Our country has yet to elect a woman president to lead us in these United States, and as many know, it isn’t because those who have tried, haven’t been more than qualified.
• Our Catholic church has yet to ordain a woman licitly—we call both of these examples the sin of sexism, and we could go on…, so those “without sin” [can indeed throw stones!]

   In the past couple of years, I have read two books that I would recommend, that speak to the deep-seeded racism prevalent in our society.  One I have mentioned before, Subversive Habits, by Shannon Dee Williams (2022) who lifts up to the light of day the very sad story of black women being discriminated against by white women within religious orders of sisters.   

   The second, a new book this past year, JAMES, by Percival Everett, takes a bit of literary license in retelling Mark Twain’s story of Huckleberry Finn through the eyes of Jim, who lived under slavery, and who accompanied Huck on a trip down the Mississippi River.  The title, JAMES, speaks to the desire, I believe, of people held in slavery wanting to be treated as equals to their white counterparts. 

Everett calls our attention to the fact that whites considered their black “slaves” as having “little emotion,” being that they considered them, “less than human, “and when they were beaten, it didn’t hurt them as much as it would whites. 

   Everett also addresses this concept that, “blacks were considered a step below whites” through the use of a “simple” language that in fact made those “held” in slavery appear “dumb,” while in reality, they very intellectually planned their escapes from slavery. As Julia Walsh spoke of in the NCR article—the untruths we tell ourselves to justify our sins…

   Let us remember friends, that as we read Jesus’ words in Scripture and “watch” the ways he treats others, we are called, and expected, to do the same.  Recently, (WAPS) the Winona Area Public Schools board voted to remove the supports of Title IX from their LGBTQ students due to pressure from the federal government to block financial aid with regard to supporting DEI measures.  We must remind them to do the right thing – that we stand with them to find a “better way,” and along with our brother Jesus, to perhaps do something new!  Amen? Amen!

My friends, we are at the mid-way point in our Lenten journey, and with this Sunday’s readings, we are called in all three selections to, “come back to our loving God, especially if we have “been away,” or to once again, refocus our thoughts and actions on more closely following the path laid out for us by our brother Jesus.

   Our God, who is Creator and Savior/Revealer makes it easy for us by always being one who “chases after us all the days of our lives,” as it is so beautifully phrased in the 23^rd Psalm of the Scripture version, The Message.  Our God is forever giving us a second chance to return, trying once again to be our best, because after all, that is what our brother Jesus calls us to, not only during Lent, but throughout each day of our lives. 

   Let’s look a bit deeper at today’s readings to see how this is actually true.   The 1^st reading from Joshua is simply telling the Israelite people that God no longer “disapproves” of them for their actions—they are free now from their trials in Egypt, and God, who has always “walked with them,” awaiting the day when they would return, and strive again to be who God called them to be.  And even though, their actions called for punishment, our God showed them only mercy. 

   In the 2^nd reading from 2 Corinthians, Paul says that we have been “reconciled” to God through Jesus.  This statement is reflective with the “old theology” we all learned about, “Jesus dying for our sins,” which basically is quite a “black and white,” surface view of what Paul is actually saying.  A better way to look at his words, many would say, is that our God simply wants us, “to strive to be our best,” as that will better serve ourselves and others. 

   And then we have the beautiful story of the Prodigal in Luke’s gospel selection.  This story completes the theme expressed in all three readings today, of a God who will always give us another chance—of one who wants us close, and will always be on the journey towards us even before we have decided to “come home.”

   In my mind, the story of the Prodigal is one of the most beautiful that our brother Jesus has gifted us with.  Let’s take a closer look.  The story we just read says, “the father caught sight of his son and was deeply moved.  The father went out to meet him—hugged and kissed him…”  We must not miss the emotion here as expressed by this father. 

   At the beginning of this story, we read, “this one welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  Unfortunately, this reminds me of the response that our parish received from our local bishop to several invitations we offered him, to meet, perhaps to share a meal, to talk, only to be told, we needed to “recant” before that could happen.  I believe that his actions do not reflect those of our brother Jesus, who Scripture clearly tells us, was willing to meet with anyone.

   This beautiful story of the Prodigal is beautiful and true to our own call to a life of love in many ways.  On the surface of the story, we witness the excessive wastefulness of the son, of the gift of his inheritance, showing disrespect for his father’s love for him.  And we see as well the “prodigal,” wastefulness of the father pouring out, “over-the-top” love for his errant child when he finally comes home, willing to try again. 

   Love, real love can be a tough thing, to continue to give, overtime, especially when it is not reciprocated.  Any of you who have parented children, guided students, or counseled friends know this to be true.  On a purely human level, we can at times look rather judgmentally at friends and relatives who may have hurt us along the way, who we have tried to love, think the best of, and rather cynically in the end say, “you made your bed, now lie in it!” I will change when you do, or something similar.

   We see this reaction today in the older son, who has been faithful, doing all that was asked of him.  He is bewildered, blind-sided we might even say, by his father’s “wasteful” love poured out on his seemingly “worthless” brother. “You certainly can’t mean this,” we can almost hear him say—and he is down-right angry! 

   The story then drags us back to the loving parent who simply can’t respond in any other way…he “pleads” with his faithful son, who he likewise loves dearly, “can’t you see, he was lost, and now is found, we had to celebrate that!” And again, there may be some of you who have been in this situation.

   The conclusion of this story though often leaves many struggling to accept this over-the-top reaction from the father.  But we must go the next step and realize that the mercy shown will call the wayward child to repent and strive again toward becoming their best self—toward showing their gratitude by loving in a likewise fashion. 

   Earlier I stated that this gospel story is true of our own lives as well.  The life of Jesus, our brother constantly calls us over and above our human tendencies to look cynically on life with an “eye for an eye” mentality, and instead, love wastefully.  Our response may not be, “over-the-top,” but in the face of much that just seems, “not right” in our present day, we must continue to be our best—when models of this kind of love and mercy in Church and State don’t seem to be there, we must do our part. If not us, who?

   So, in conclusion my friends, a few final thoughts that may be meaningful this next week of our Lenten journey—which really at day’s end is all about, being better “lovers” of all created life. 

• Do I grow more like Jesus every day? (concentrating on his message should be our main focus).
• Sister Joan Chittister on prayer: “Prayer is meant to bring us to see the world as God [does] – it is meant to expand our vision, not trap us in a world that is only ourselves.
• Our decisions in our day-to-day life should bring us peace; otherwise, they are probably not of God or what may be the best action for us to take, (my personal experience).
• Does my speech reflect a deep caring and respect for myself and others in the ways that God has first loved me?
• Do I live with a sense of justice that is due each person, coupled with an attempt to understand what each walks with in life, rather than the tendency to judge what I see on the surface?
• Do I make an attempt to share my wealth with those less fortunate, through tithing, contributions to the local food shelf, community-sponsored meals, and shelters for the homeless?

   We humans lose sight of our purpose at times—on our trip, we saw many German and French cathedrals—Catholic and Lutheran, each striving to be bigger, on a higher hill, to in effect say, “we are the best!”  We Catholics must never forget that we are also Christians—followers of Jesus of Nazareth, remembering that our God is always, always calling us to be our best and if we grow a bit closer to that image during this Lent, then I would say, we did good.  Finally, I like to think about our God as “always up for a party” to celebrate our efforts! Amen? Amen!

My friends, Lent is upon us once again, and for some, that may be a negative thing, while others may feel more positive about these 40 days.  Robert usually remembers each year his childhood and of having to pray the rosary each night and of the long church services, especially during Holy Week, and also, the joy he felt when on Good Friday, everyone would get up to venerate the cross—a little movement to get a break in the “endless” prayers, that for a child were hard to take. 

   So, today, I’d like to look a bit then through the chosen readings at just what our humanity calls us to during these 40 days, and perhaps in a more positive way.  The gospel today from Luke shows us the devil tempting our brother Jesus directly through his humanity—in the ways that we are all, at times, tempted.  Jesus has gone into the hills to be alone and prepare for the start of his public ministry through prayer and fasting.  Thus, the devil tempts him with physical food.  Next Jesus is tempted with power – to control everything – to be in charge if only he will bow down before the devil.  And finally, when neither of these work on Jesus – the devil’s temptation hits at his divinity – his indestructibleness. 

   With each temptation – Jesus goes to Scripture to justify his response to the devil.  “Not on bread alone will we live.”  “You will do homage to God alone.”  “You will not put the Most High to the test.”  We should not miss my friends, Jesus’ actions in each of these three temptations – he goes to Scripture to find his way forward.  The lesson for us is to always, “follow in Jesus’ footsteps.”

   Additionally, I think we do well to “study” how Jesus lives out his humanity, to then respond in like manner.  In other words, we need to let Jesus “be human” – otherwise we will miss the great gift that our God gave us in “risking,” as John Shea says in his beautiful Creed that we use here at All Are One, that the Godself would become human.

   Now, some might say that the Godself is perfect, so how then can he/she be capable of “risking?” Without knowing what the theologian/storyteller, John Shea might have been thinking, I can only surmise that he wants us to get away from the merely, “black and white” images that we may have been living with to understand in a greater way just how much we are loved by the Godself, to use Shea’s term for God.

   Just think my friends, that our God loved us enough to for a time dispense with the powers of divinity (all perfect-ness – no flaws) “risking” Jesus, begotten of God to come among us, completely human with all that it implies. 

   Paul’s 2^nd chapter of the letter to the Philippians, that we will use later in Lent, speaks so well to this idea: “His state was divine, yet he did not cling to it, but became human…and was humbled” …as we are.

   I believe we have all experienced a time in our lives, when we loved someone fully with our hearts and minds, and this could be with a mate, a sibling, or a friend, and that love wasn’t returned, or perhaps not in the same way.  We “risked” loving another, became vulnerable before that love – only to not have it be returned, or perhaps abused. 

   Unless we can allow Jesus to be completely human and risk loving all of us, even if rejected by some, then I submit, he can’t really be of much help to us in our journeys to God.  I think this may be what Shea is saying in his Creed, and again, not knowing for sure.

   Before Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time, Scripture tells us that he “wept over” [the city] – a purely human act from a human/God who “risked” everything, only to be misunderstood in the end.  We can each turn to our human brother Jesus with all that troubles us in our human journeys because he lived it too, and knows the pain of loss, rejection, of not being good enough for some, of being misunderstood and taken for granted.

   I have spent time today, my friends, during this homily lifting up with you the possibility of God “risking” in sending Jesus because over the years, using this Creed, some have found the word, “risking” both interesting and for some, unbelievable.  I believe if we can allow God to so, be, one-with-us, and believe that God would fully immerse into humanity, right down to our weakness, then our God becomes so much more interesting, full, and thus, loveable.  To me, it is in the act of “risking” that I can see how truly God’s love is over-the-top!

   Now we might wonder why for so many, many years of Church history, we were taught that Jesus came to save us from our sins, instead of, as John Shea seems to suggest in his beautiful Creed, that it was really because of love for us, to show us how to navigate the ups and downs of being human, to be completely human as we are, in order to show us how to do it ourselves. I think our Church history gives us such an unloving view of our good God, because they just couldn’t believe that God would love us that much. 

   So, during Lent, my friends, I would invite each of us to take this, perhaps new concept, that of God “risking” in Jesus, “to the basement of our hearts” and see what we might discover there.  I have shared in the past a piece by Hospice chaplain, Janet Harney, entitled The Basement of my Heart, and have left some copies on the back table for your reflection.  As you know, I often suggest taking things to our hearts when trying to decide the best way to go.  Besides looking at new concepts, we might find, as the article suggests, there are other things that can be addressed, “in the basement of our hearts” with our God who is waiting there for us, and that Lent is a good time to do this.  As Moses suggests in the 1^st reading from Deuteronomy to the People of God, a good response to this God of ours, for always being there for us, is, “gratitude.” 

   In conclusion then my friends, from the time we may choose to spend, “in the basement of our hearts,” we may find a “renewed faith” as Paul speaks of it to the Romans in today’s 2^nd reading, which will give us the strength to move forward in our world that so needs true followers of Jesus to respond, “with justice toward all.  And also, let us be fortified that all we do for good in our world, we do not do alone — as we sang the beautiful psalmist’s words today, “Be with me God when I am in trouble,” and we know that God is indeed there. Amen? Amen!