Homily for Thursday, 2d Week of Lent

Homily for Thursday
2d Week of Lent

March 20, 2025
Resp. Psalm
Collect
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph Residence, N.R.

“Blessed are they who hope in the Lord” (Responsory).

It’s a human tendency to rely on one’s own powers—of intellect, of charisma, of skill, or like the rich man in Jesus’ parable, on wealth and perhaps prestige.

Alphonsus Liguori had a promising legal career in his future until he unexpectedly lost a big case because he’d overlooked some small detail in the matter.  His career crashed.  So much for talent, intellect, and ambition.  He underwent a drastic conversion—not that he’d been irreligious or evil before that.  His perspective changed.  He put himself into God’s hands, which then allowed him to do tremendous good for the people of God, good that continues still thru his religious sons and has earned him lasting fame that a brilliant legal career never would’ve.

When we put our trust and our hope in the Lord, then we too “bear fruit in due season” (Ps 1:3).  We prayed earlier that God might direct our hearts—God, and not our pride, ambition, comfort, or any self-seeking or worldly concern—in order that our faith might be steadfast, and thus we might be “effective in works” (Collect).

You may think of yourself as retired.  But you still have work at hand—your work among your brothers, your ongoing contacts with your families, past students and colleagues, and the house staff.  How much good you can still do thru your prayer and your steadfast faith in the Lord Jesus!