Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Out of the Way (Ash Wednesday 2016-02-10)

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.

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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