Thursday, February 19, 2026

Homily for Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Homily for Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Feb. 19, 2026
Deut 30: 15-20
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Moses with the Ten Commandments
(Champaigne)
“Moses said to the people:  ‘If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, … you will live and grow numerous, and the Lord, your God, will bless you...” (Deut 30: 16).

As they assemble on the borders of the Promised Land, Moses reminds the Israelites of the covenant relationship between them and the Lord.  Their faithfulness to that relationship will be the key to their wellbeing.

As we begin Lent, the Church recalls for us our own relationship with the Lord, our God.  Our wellbeing, happiness, and future life in the land promised to us are all related to our keeping God’s commandments and maintaining our close bonds with the Lord Jesus, our pioneer in the way to that land (cf. Heb 12:2).

We might add, for us religious, that the flourishing of our communities depends upon our fidelity to both Jesus and our particular charism, which is another kind of commandment.

Brothers, we’ve all committed ourselves wholeheartedly to our Lord Jesus and to our religious vocation.  Lent is a time for us to deepen our commitment; in the words of the collect we prayed earlier in the week,[1] to let God’s grace fashion our hearts more and more into homes where God may dwell, so that we may abide forever with him.



[1] 6th Week of Ordinary Time.

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