A Homily for Lent

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.

Even Now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart.

Even now,
Even now--- when you've been hiding from me for months,
Even now ---when you avoid me like I'm the plague,
Even now when you get drunk, when you swallow pills or smoke, when you hurt your body by stuffing it or starving it or purging it or pushing it physically beyond what it can take or what it should it take,
Even now when you make fun of people to make your friends laugh, to feel like you belong,
Even now when you value everything that takes you away from me---- MORE than me: your reputation, your colleagues at work, your grades, your work out, your practice, your party, your friends, your drinks, your shows, your music, your sexual urges, your sleep, your comfort, your privilege-- even now when you continually put me last, even now...

I want you back.

Even now, when you indulge in cynicism and scorn, when you isolate yourself, when you give in to despair-----without ever having given in to me.

Even when you live only by the rules and not by mercy, when you judge others relentlessly, keeping lists in your heart of their failings, their inadequacies,

Even now- when I see you walk by people who are hurting---- every day of your life and you never stop to see them, even now...

I want you back.

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart.

Return
Return to me
Return to me with your heart
Return to me with your whole heart.

Return to me.
You began with me- whether you accept it or not. You are mine. I formed you, created you, counted every hair on your head. And if you have gone away from me---- it is only because I love you enough to give you the freedom to reject me.

Return to me.
Return to the source of all that gives you life, return to me who loves you more than you can dream of, more than you can imagine--- even if you use every bit of intelligence and creativity I've ever given you.

Return to me where you belong- where you are home. Return to me ---so you can stop feeling so frantic, so torn, so baffled, so alone, so dazed, so numb, so scared.

Even now return to me.

Even now-return to me- with your heart- your whole heart.

Half measures avail nothing. You have given me half measures most of the time- tossing me a thought when you are afraid or worried, deciding to change your life and be different, meaning to change your life and be different,

but never turning it all over to me so that I could help you.
Even now- return to me with your heart- your whole heart.

I am not interested in your sacrifices, some of the crazy things you may give up for me- if they don't bring you closer to me.

It is you I want.

What you have never understood is that I don't see the things that make you feel unworthy. I see YOU. I see YOU and I see who you are inside. Even now, return to me with your heart. Your heart is what I am dying for- have died for---literally.

May we carry these words of God's in our hearts these next 40 days-may they become a mantra of sorts, reminding us of the purpose of Lent and of God's deepest desires for us.

And now a practical suggestion. This year, Jesuits all over the world are celebrating a jubilee year- to commemorate anniversaries of 3 very important Jesuits: the 450th anniversary of the death of St. Ignatius, the 500th anniversary of the births of St. Francis Xavier and Blessed Peter Faber.

I think they are really important for this community because these Jesuits met as young men when they were studying at the University of Paris. Friends together, they became friends in the Lord and from them have spread untold love and life through the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. Their friendship and what they were able to accomplish through that friendship, fires the imagination. And they met in college. I invite you to ask two friends to form a circle of friendship in the Lord this Lent. Find two people who want to grow in faith, two people who want to grow this Lent, two people to whom you will be accountable for keeping the Lenten promises and plans you have and who will share their Lenten promises and prayers with you. Arrange a time to talk with them - maybe every few days- or once a week- to share how Lent is going. Another idea is to ask two friends who are not near you and share with one another over email. As the first three Jesuits did, we can inspire one another to be ever more faithful in our journey to God.

Pray for us.
Amen.