Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Homily for Wednesday, 5th Week of Lent

Homily for Wednesday
5th Week of Lent

April 10, 2019
Collect
Dan 3: 14-20, 91-92, 95
John 8: 31-42                                                 
Don Bosco Cristo Rey HS, Takoma Park, Md.

In our Collect today, after an appreciative note that the God of compassion stirs us to a sense of devotion, we made 2 petitions:  that he enlighten the hearts of his children—meaning us, of course—and that he grant a gracious hearing when we cry out to him.

by Simeon Solomon
The prophetic and gospel readings are related to these 2 petitions.  In Daniel the Lord hears the prayers of the 3 young men condemned to a fiery death on account of their fidelity to him (prayers skipped over in the reading but included in part in the responsory), and rescues them.  The story’s one of several in Daniel meant to encourage the Jewish people in a time of persecution.  So we pray that we may be rescued—not so much from temporal threats, altho Christians have to deal also with those; but especially from the ultimate dangers of infidelity, sin, and eternal disaster.  We pray that God’s grace always protect us.

In the gospel Jesus assures his listeners that his word is truth and it sets us free from sin or safeguards us from sin.  His word enlightens our hearts.  His word is the truth that guides our lives if we will truly be his disciples and remain in his word (John 8:31-32,34,36).

So that’s our prayer today for ourselves and for the entire People of God:  for hearts enlightened by Christ and for a gracious hearing whenever we’re in need of divine assistance—which is always, isn’t it?

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