ASH
WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2016
… or
use on 1st Sunday off Lent,
Feb. 14 ?
• Joel 2:12-18 • Psalm 51 • 2 Corinthians
5:20-6:2 • Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 •
practiced duration:
Title:
“Out of the Way”
[__01__] Out of
the way.
There
are advantages to the desert. There are advantages to a desert environment.
And, in the northeast (NE) corridor of the U.S. and in the vicinity of West
Orange, 24 inches of snow later, we
might find the desert dryness to be more favorable than the recent
precipitation.
There
are advantages, apparently, in the desert and in a location out of the way.
Going
out of the regular way, off the regular highway, Jesus goes without food or
drink for 40 days and 40 nights.
In
this regard, our Savior followed in the footsteps off the prophet Moses. He also followed in the footsteps of the
prophet Elijah. Both Moses and Elijah
fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in their own journeys.
Specifically,
Moses did so at Mount Sinai. Moses went out of the way for 40 days and nights
to receive the stone tablets of the 10 Commandments.
Sometimes,
going out of the way can cause confusion, misunderstanding. Where did he go?
Why?
At
Mount Sinai, Moses received the 10 Commandments and climbed Mount Sinai to
receive the stone tablets. However, he
also leaves his group and community behind in order to go on this 40 day
retreat atop the mountain.
Moses
had a special calling, a special mission, similar to the 12-year-old Jesus.
Jesus had gone to the Temple in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the caravan continued on
its destination to Nazareth. Jesus had
gone out the way. His parents were not pleased and were confused.
Moses
was out of sight and out of the way on the summit of Mount Sinai for 40 days
and nights.
During
this time, we read in the Book of the Exodus about the anxiety of the people.
For
40 days and nights – without their
leader – the people feared for their safety, their well-being, both physically
and spiritually. And, in their spiritual fear, they went out
of their way to create the idol of the Golden Calf. They took their material
possessions and melted the gold and created the idol.
In
a way, their choice was logical. Often, a crowd can be very logical, The herd
mentality can be entirely reasonable and difficult to reject. If we do not get
out of the way of the crowd, we could be run over or trampled.
The
community – in fear during Moses’ 40-day absence – was anxious. And, they were far from home. They were far
from their most recent home of slavery in
Egypt. And, they were also far
from taking possession or “closing on” their new possession of the Promised
Land of Israel.
And,
if we were to be insecure, fearful, would we not be tempted to create IDOLS –
·
Idols of comfort
·
Idols of wealth
·
Idols of something material to bring us
consolation.
Sometimes,
the idol is also a desire for some opportunity we missed …or for some advantage
possessed by someone else. The grass is greener on the other side.
This
takes out of the way … and can be an idol which we worship.
[__02__] During
these 40 days of Lent, we are also
invited to go out of our regular way. Is
this an advantage?
Surely,
we favor the concept or reality of a holiday or vacation which is out of the
way. We favor the road or highway which
is less less traveled because we can arrive with better MPH and MPG.
[*** P A U S E ***]
[__03__] This is
not only true in geography and travel.
The out of the way opportunity is prized in many areas. Stores and retailers may try to reach
customers whom others may have overlooked.
You and I may be that customer.
On
the other hand, In a search for monetary gain and profitable investments, we
will try to discover businesses, stocks, bonds which are out of the way or
unknown. Certainly, these days, many people know the identity and
corporate identity of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. However, when Apple Computer was in a garage
and Facebook was in a college dorm room,
they were out of the way, yet to be discovered.
Being
out of the way can be an advantage.
[*** P A U S E ***]
[__04__] *** In the Gospel we read this Sunday, Jesus
goes into the desert out of the way…..
and in the Gospel we read on Ash Wednesday, we are told, when you pray, go to
your room, and pray to your Father in secret and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
So,
when we pray, we are called to remember that prayer does not happen only in
church or at Sunday Mass or with the reception of ashes.
Rather,
prayer is an action of the will, the heart, and the mind. Paul reminds us to
pray constantly, in church pew of our
own chair at home, in the church pew of
our own bedside, on the kneeler beside our bed. Or, at the altar of our own
dining room table.
We
are called to pray when no one is watching. This was the experience of Moses
also whose intimacy and conversation
with
God were in private, on the mountain, out of the way.
God were in private, on the mountain, out of the way.
Being
out of the way can be an advantage. We
are called also to fast and to abstain from meat on certain days such as Ash
Wednesday and Friday and Good Friday during Lent and Holy Week.
Being
out of the way can be an advantage.
That
is, it is easier to fast when we can take a break from some of our usual routine. Fasting
is not only about what we NOT
doing but also about we gain the freedom to do with our time, energy, emotions,
and appetite.
[*** P
A U S E ***]
[__05__] Being
out of the way can be an advantage. These 40 days of Lent also remind us to
renew our charitable giving, our almsgiving to the poor. Some us may have
money, monetary gifts to make, others may be able to give with time and
patience.
Jesus
says, “do not let your left hand know what your right is doing.” (Matthew
6:___)
That
is, go out of your way, but don’t
be concerned about the efficiency of
your speed or direction.
If
no one notices your patience, your gift, your contribution or sacrifcice, then
your left does not know what your right
is doing.
Your
father who sees in secret will repay
you. You have stored up treasure in heaven.
Going
out of the way can be an advantage. [__fin__]
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