Homily for 4th Sunday of Lent

Homily for the
4th Sunday of Lent

Mar. 10, 2024
Eph 2: 4-10
John 3: 14-21
Villa Maria, Bronx
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx        
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx              

“God is rich in mercy.  Because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our sins, he brought us to life with Christ.  By this grace you have been saved.” (Eph 2: 4-5)

In America and most of the Western world, we like to think we can pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.  (I’m not sure anyone these days knows what bootstraps are.  But you’ve heard the saying.)  We think that if we work hard we can succeed in business, perhaps become rich, perhaps famous, perhaps highly respected.

There’s a variety of Christianity that preaches something like that:  that wealth and security will be the blessings awarded to us for sincerely and faithfully following Christ.  That’s called the “prosperity Gospel.”

Both of these beliefs—that hard work and solid faith lead to a kind of salvation—suggest that we can attain earthly or heavenly success by our own efforts.

A little observation of life tells us hard work doesn’t always lead to success.  The belief that our own efforts produce eternal salvation is a heresy, condemned at least since the days of St. Augustine.

The sacred Scriptures tell us we can’t save ourselves.  Salvation comes as an act of grace, as a favor from God.  God owes us nothing.

In the first days of his pontificate, Pope Francis was asked who he was; how would be describe himself.  He told his interviewer, “I’m a sinner.”  He continues to say so, and he goes to confession every 2 weeks seeking God’s grace.  I echo the Holy Father:  I’m a sinner, and I need the sacrament of Reconciliation regularly.  You, too, are sinners and need God’s forgiveness.

God loves us.  He created us out of love, and he redeems us in Christ out of love.  “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him … might have eternal life” (John 3:16).

In our 1st reading (2 Chr 36:14-23), the author we call the Chronicler summarized Israel’s history as one of repeated infidelity and disobedience to God, which led to the destruction of the kingdom of Judah and exile in Babylon.  Then God had mercy on Israel and sent them a secular savior, Cyrus the king of Persia, who set them free, allowed them to return home, and helped them rebuild the temple for sacred worship.  God forgave, and God restored them.

Confession (Giuseppe Molteni)

Jesus Christ does that for us on the spiritual level.  He doesn’t condemn those who come to him confessing their sins.  “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned” (3:18).  Moses held up a bronze serpent for the healing of sinful Israelites on their way toward the Promised Land.  Speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus compares himself to that bronze image.  Looking to him “lifted up” on the cross brings us healing for our sins and the promise of eternal life (3:14).  When we come repentant to the sacrament of Reconciliation—confession—we’re looking at Christ lifted up for our redemption, and he pours upon us the grace of his mercy.  As St. Paul says today, God raises us up with Christ and seats us alongside him in heaven (Eph 2:6).

Jesus also speaks to Nicodemus about the possibility of preferring darkness to light (John 3:19).  Have you ever gone into a kitchen or pantry, turned on the light, and seen cockroaches scurrying away, back into some dark corners?  The light of Christ exposes our sinfulness—our lies, our slander, our greed, our offenses against human life and human dignity, our offenses against chastity.  We have the option of running away from his light, condemning ourselves to darkness because our works are evil. (3:20).  When we do that, it’s not Christ who condemns us; we do it ourselves.

On the other hand, “Whoever lives the truth comes to the light,” comes to God with our Lord Jesus.  “Because of the great love God has for us even … in our sins, he brings us to life with Christ.  By grace we’ve been saved.” (cf. Eph 2:4-5).  Thanks be to God!