Sunday, February 21, 2021
Last week we finished our 5 Part Homily Series: “Follow”! Today we begin our next homily series: “Travel the World in 7 Minutes”! We all want to travel these days, but due to the circumstances it is very difficult. In these next 7 homilies (each given in just 7 minutes) we will be travelling the world together and learning from nature, creation, human invention and experiences, how to better live Lent and each Sunday’s Gospel. This Sunday we will go to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Then we will go to Mabou, Nova Scotia, then Port au Prince, Haiti, then Krakow, Poland, then Manhattan, New York, then Capri, Italy, and we will end this series in Jerusalem, Israel.
Years ago I went to Mexico, near Nuevo Laredo in the summer. It was so hot. It reminded me of what the desert would be like. If it wasn’t for artificial irrigation, there would have been few plants, animals and fish.
If the desert is so vast and void, why would Jesus go there? In the desert Jesus couldn’t do his carpentry, he couldn’t preach, he couldn’t help people, he could just be. Perhaps Jesus wants to remind us that our life isn’t just about doing, above all it’s about being. Above all our lives are about being loved by God. Yet, how hard it is to allow ourselves to be loved by God. Perhaps Jesus went to the desert to let go of everything else and allow himself to be loved.
Traditionally there are three ways we can “be'' this Lent. There are three ways we can “be loved” this Lent. First of all by opening our hearts to God’s love in prayer. Second of all, by choosing to love more the things that are more important and by loving less the things that are less important through fasting. And third of all by loving our brothers and sisters in need through almsgiving and charity.
Perhaps in Lent we often focus on the first two, let’s not forget what’s most important: charity!
If you need anything, never hesitate to ask me.
God bless you and your loved ones, Fr. Kramer Cameron, LC