Homily for Tuesday, 1st Week of Lent

Homily for Tuesday
1st Week of Lent

March 11, 2025
Is 55: 10-11
Matt 6: 7-15
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

“My word … shall not return to me void, but shall do my will” (Is 55: 11).

Our 1st reading comes from the end of the 2d main section of the prophetic book of Isaiah.  The theme of that section is the liberation of the Jewish people from their Babylonian exile, a new exodus that will bring them home to Israel.  God promises to effect that, and his word is effective.

The Word of God made flesh promises to effect our redemption, to free us from Satan’s lordship, to defeat sin and the wages of sin, death (Rom 6:23).  The Word of God offers forgiveness and restoration to a healthy relationship with our Creator, such as our 1st parents enjoyed when “God moved about in the garden at the breezy time of the day” (Gen 3:8), seeking the company of his beloved children (3:9).

Agony in the Garden
(after Titian)

Jesus teaches us to pray—and gives us his personal example:  “thy will be done on earth as it is heaven” and his prayer in Gethsemane (Matt 6:10; 26:39).  He teaches us to pray for deliverance from evil (Matt 6:13)—from the evil one and from his snares.  Therefore, we pray confidently with David:  “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps 34:5).

The word of God shall do his will, achieving the end for which he sends it (cf. Is 55:11).