Some notes for a Homily for the Opening Mass of St Joseph's School

24^th February 2006

There is much anger around at present both here and abroad. Specifically in Iraq, and in the Middle East generally we see a very angry world. We all take that into ourselves. We are all affected by it and it only adds to our own anxieties. We carry this anxiety with us and see it in others. We need Lent, which begins on Wednesday, to help us focus our lives once again.

We can hear those two readings tonight about love and not be moved by them at all. We can hear them and be confirmed in our comfort zone. After all, love is what we all want. We want love but we do not want to have to change. Do we only want the love that costs us little. For the Christian that is not love at all.

The first Commandment comes from Deuteronomy 6:2-9. Moses says:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.”

He goes on to say: “Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away,when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on you hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”

Many Jews today still literally bind parts of the scriptures on their foreheads and hands and on their door posts. We have a Catholic way of doing it to. We cross ourselves on our foreheads, lips, and over our hearts after the Gospel as we just did. We do it for the very same reason as the Jews observe their custom: we pray that the Word of God be part of our very being.

Isn't Moses words concerning handing those words onto our children a good agenda for us? That is the agenda too for Lent which begins next week on Ash Wednesday. That is the simple agenda of our children's preparation for first Reconciliation which begins then too. Let us then this year recite those words often to our children. Let them be part of ourselves.

It is healthy advice from Moses. How often do we pay lip service to God? Where is the fire in our belly for what is good and true. Where is the zeal for love. That is why we need Lent to call us to reflect on where do we stand.